Heterogeneity of maternal characteristics and impact on gestational diabetes (GDM) risk—Implications for universal GDM screening?

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Objective To study the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in relation to phenotypic characteristics and gestational weight gain (GWG) among women at high risk for GDM.Materials and methods This is a secondary analysis of a GDM prevention study (RADIEL), a randomized controlled trial conducted in Finland. 269 women with a history of GDM and/or a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 were enrolled before 20 weeks of gestation and divided into four groups according to parity, BMI and previous history of GDM. The main outcome was incidence of GDM.Results There was a significant difference in incidence of GDM between the groups (p < 0.001). Women with a history of GDM and BMI <30 kg/m2 showed the highest incidence (35.9%). At baseline they had fewer metabolic risk factors and by the second trimester they gained more weight. There was no interaction between GWG and GDM outcome and no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetes-associated antibodies.Conclusion Despite a healthier metabolic profile at baseline the non-obese women with a history of GDM displayed a markedly higher cumulative incidence of GDM. GWG and the presence of diabetes-associated antibodies were not associated with GDM occurrence among these high-risk women.Key messageDespite a healthier metabolic profile at baseline the non-obese women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus display a markedly higher cumulative incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus.