Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes in Pregnant Women: A case-control study

 About 90% of diabetes cases during pregnancy are due to gestational diabetes. This study aimed to assess risk factors for gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

A case-control study was conducted on 279 pregnant women with gestational diabetes and 346 non-diabetic pregnant women referring to health centers in Shushtar, southwestern of Iran, in 2017-2018. Demographic characteristics and information about risk factors for gestational diabetes were collected by a checklist. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using t-test, chi-square and multiple logistic regression analysis.

The mean age of women was 27.88±5.49 years. History of macrosomia (P < 0.001), history of gestational diabetes in the previous pregnancies (P < 0.001), history of gestational diabetes in the family (P < 0.001), history of type 2 diabetes in the family (P < 0.001), and history of preeclampsia (P = 0.007) were identified as risk factors for gestational diabetes in univariate analysis, while history of gestational diabetes in the previous pregnancies and history of type 2 diabetes in the family were remained as risk factor for gestational diabetes in multiple logistic.

Due to the high incidence of adverse complications of gestational diabetes, designing a special care system in health services for pregnant mothers, especially mothers with a history of gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies and a history of type 2 diabetes in the family is recommended.