MySweetHeart Cohort is an observational study to assess the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on early life offspring's cardiovascular health.

The primary objective is to assess the effect of GDM on the surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at birth (left ventricular mass index and subclinical atherosclerosis). The secondary objective is to assess the effect of GDM on the cardiovascular structure and function during the fetal period and neonatal adverse cardiovascular risk factors.

The main hypothesis is that offspring of women with GDM have a larger LVMI and a larger cIMT at birth (primary outcomes) compared with offspring of women without GDM. Further, other hypotheses are that offspring of women with GDM have more foetal cardiovascular alterations and adverse neonatal cardio-metabolic risk factors (secondary outcomes) compared with offspring of women without GDM.

My SweetHeart Cohort is linked to MySweetHeart Trial, a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of a multidimensional interdisciplinary lifestyle and psychosocial intervention to improve the cardio-metabolic and mental health of women with GDM and their offspring. The principal investigators of this trial are Prof Jardena Puder and Dr Antje Horsch from Lausanne University Hospital.

Inclusion Criteria:

Women aged 18 yrs or older, with or without GDM at 24-32 weeks of gestation, and understanding French or English.

Exclusion Criteria:

Women on strict bed-rest, with pre-existing diabetes or known severe mental disorder

We will include the offspring of 100 women with GDM and of 100 women without GDM. They will be recruited at 24-32 wks of gestation and will be followed-up with their offspring until birth. Primary outcomes will be measured shortly (2-7 days) after birth. Secondary outcomes will be measured during the foetal period (30-34 wks of gestation), at birth, and shortly (2-4 days) after birth. A long-term follow-up of these children is planned.

Plan to share data has to be defined