Asian-American is an independent risk factor for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Asian-American women are at high risk for developing gestational diabetes (GDM), but little is known if their elevated risk is confounded by other risk factors and/or prenatal care practice. Objective: This study investigated the role of race/ethnicity as well as other risk factors associated with GDM in a population-based sample of women. Methods: We analyzed data of 2,062 women who had live births and responded to a questionnaire from the New York State Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2004-2006. The effects of race/ethnicity, age, pre-pregnancy BMI, hypertension, stress, and smoking exposure on GDM were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Control variables used were education, time of first prenatal care, and place of prenatal care. Results: In the multivariate model with controls, odds ratios for GDM were 4.72 (95% CI, 2.70, 8.24) for Asian, 2.61 (95% CI, 1.24, 5.48) for other races, 2.59 (95% CI 1.65, 4.04) for age 25-34 years, 4.84 (95% CI, 3.00, 7.79) for age ³35 years, 2.39 (95% CI, 1.72, 3.32) for pre-pregnancy BMI ³30 kg/m², 2.08 (95% CI, 1.52, 2.85) for hypertension, and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.11, 1.94) for stressful life events ³2 during pregnancy. The odds ratio for Asian increased incrementally with additions of other risk factors and control variables. Discussion/Conclusions: Being Asian-American is an independent risk factor for GDM. Other risk factors associated with GDM includ increased maternal age, pre-pregnancy obesity, hypertension, and stressful life events during pregnancy.