Prevalence of gestational diabetes and associated maternal and neonatal complications in a fast-developing community: global comparisons

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM) is increasing all over the world. Hence, the impact of GDM on maternal and infant health is an important topic of research. No study has been conducted in Qatar to evaluate the outcome of pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus.

Objective

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of GDM, compare the maternal–neonatal complications among women with GDM and non-GDM pregnant women, and investigate the risk factors and potential outcomes associated with GDM.

Design

This is a prospective cohort study.

Setting

The survey was carried out at the antenatal clinics of the Women’s Hospital, Qatar.

Subjects and methods

A representative sample of 2056 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics of the Women’s Hospital were surveyed during the period from the first week of January 2010 to April 2011. From this sample, 1608 women (78.2%) expressed their consent to participate in the study. Questionnaires were administered to pregnant women who were seeking antenatal care at this urban hospital. The questionnaire covered variables related to sociodemographic factors, family history, medical history, maternal complications, and neonatal outcome.

Results

The prevalence of GDM in Qatar was 16.3%. Women with GDM were significantly higher in the age group of 35–45 years (45%; P = 0.001). Family history of diabetes (31.7%; P < 0.001), increased parity (55.3%; P = 0.004), and obesity (59.2%; P < 0.001) were determinants of GDM in pregnant women. Maternal complications like pregnancy-induced hypertension (19.1% vs 10.3%; P < 0.001), pre-eclampsia (7.3% vs 3.8%; P = 0.012), antepartum hemorrhage (19.2% vs 14.6%; P = 0.05), and cesarean (27.9% vs 12.4%; P < 0.001) were significantly higher in GDM women. Neonates were at increased risk of preterm birth (12.6% vs 8.3%; P = 0.03), macrosomia (10.3% vs 5.9%; P = 0.01), and birth trauma (8% vs 3%; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study findings revealed that GDM was higher in women in Qatar and that they were at increased risk of developing maternal and neonatal complications. Obesity emerged as an essential risk factor for subsequent GDM. The advanced maternal age, low monthly income, family history of diabetes, and obesity were the main significant risk factors for GDM.

Keywords:

• gestational diabetes
• obstetric risks
• macrosomic
• Qatar

Introduction

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a glucose tolerance disorder that occurs or is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy.¹ GDM is a public health problem that currently affects a large part of the female population and has short- and long-term consequences for the fetus and the mother. It has been reported that GDM affects 1%–14% of all pregnancies, and that its incidence has been steadily rising.² GDM is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, as well as maternal morbidity.³ It is therefore highly important that these mothers are diagnosed during pregnancy and that they have a regular postpartum follow-up for identification and treatment of any complications.

Although the risks associated with GDM are well recognized, the impact on maternal and neonatal health outcomes is less clear. The factors that have been postulated to influence the risk of GDM among mothers include obesity, a positive family history of diabetes, treatment for infertility, recurrent urinary tract infections, macrosomic infant, unexplained neonatal death, prematurity, pre-eclampsia, diabetes in previous pregnancy, and advancing maternal age.⁴ Women with GDM have increased risk for potential morbidity and for impaired glucose tolerance, and it identifies a population of women who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the years following the pregnancy.⁵ In addition to higher risk of perinatal morbidity, the offspring of mothers with GDM face increased risk of childhood obesity and early onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.⁶ GDM is a condition that can be effectively controlled, thereby decreasing the associated risks and eventually leading to the delivery of healthy infants. Thus, appropriate management of GDM will improve both maternal and perinatal outcomes.

The data on the prevalence of GDM and its complications in Asian populations are very few.⁷ Previous studies of Bener et al^8–11 have reported that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its complications was high in Qatar. It was documented in the literature that GDM women and their offspring are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes in later life.^12,13 Because Qatar has a high prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus,⁸ it is important to determine the prevalence of GDM in women. Early diagnosis of GDM is necessary to reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and to help to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the population characteristics of women with GDM and identify the risk factors associated with GDM.

Subjects and methods

This is a prospective cohort study that was conducted among Qatari and other Arab pregnant women over a period from January 2010 to April 2011. The study surveyed all pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics of the Women’s Hospital. The hospital is an urban hospital, and patients were referred from private clinics and primary health care centers. A representative sample of 2056 pregnant women were approached and 1608 women (78.2%) expressed their consent to participate in the study. Women with diabetes before pregnancy were not included in the study. A total of 448 women were excluded from the study due to incomplete questionnaires or if they did not want to respond to the questionnaire due to lack of time. A series of pregnant women were taken consecutively from the register and included in the study sample. Research assistants screened medical files of the subjects for any queries about the pregnancy and neonatal complications.

In 2010, there were a total of 16,188 deliveries in the Women’s Hospital. Our study sample included 1608 pregnant women, which is 9.9% of the mothers delivered. The study was approved by both institutional review boards at the Weill Cornell Medical College and Hamad Medical Corporation prior to commencing data collection. Each participant was provided with brief information about the study and was assured of strict confidentiality.

Sociodemographic data of the pregnant women were obtained during the face-to-face interview. During the study period, women attending the antenatal clinics were screened for GDM. If any woman was found to have a risk factor for diabetes during her antenatal visits, she was screened during the same visit. If her plasma glucose on screening was ≥140 mg/dL, she underwent a 75 g 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test to confirm the diagnosis of GDM. Women who did not have GDM were followed up until the third trimester of pregnancy, then every fortnight in the third trimester of pregnancy. There was a follow-up for both the groups until their delivery at the clinic for identifying maternal and neonatal complications. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared.

A well-designed and pilot-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by qualified nurses using a validated self-administered questionnaire in the local language. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic characteristics of the pregnant women, family and medical history, type of maternal complication, and neonatal outcome. A translated Arabic version of the questionnaire was revised by a bilingual consultant. The survey instrument was then tested on 100 randomly selected pregnant women from the list for the validity of the questionnaire. The investigators had made the necessary corrections and modifications after considering the minor differences and discrepancies that had been found during the pilot study.

Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (v 18.0; SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). Fisher’s exact test and χ² analysis were performed to test for differences in the proportions of categorical variables between two or more groups. Student’s t-test (two-tailed) was used to determine the significance of difference between two continuous variables and confirmed by nonparametric Mann–Whitney test. Multiple logistic regression analysis using the forward inclusion and backward deletion method was used to assess the relationship between dependent and independent variables and to adjust for potential confounders and orders of importance of risk factors (determinant) for the GDM. The level P < 0.05 was taken as the cut-off value for significance.

Results

Table 1 shows the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant women with GDM and without GDM. The prevalence of GDM was 16.3%, with 8.8% among Qatari women and 7.5% among other Arab women. Women who had GDM were significantly older (33.4 ± 6.5 years) than women who had no GDM (31.9 ± 6.3 years) (P = 0.001). Women with GDM were more likely to be in the age group 35–45 years (45%; P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the level of education and occupation between the two groups, but most of the GDM women were more likely to be of a lower economic status (Qatari Riyal 5000–9999 [44.7%]).

Table 1 Sociodemographic risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Qatar (N = 1608)

Variables	GDM (n = 262)	Non-GDM (n = 1346)	P value*
Mean age (years)	33.4 (6.5)	31.9 (6.3)	0.001
Nationality
Qatari	142 (54.2)	604 (44.9)	0.008
Non-Qatari	120 (45.8)	742 (55.1)
Age group (years)
<25	35 (13.4)	224 (16.6)
25–34	109 (41.6)	679 (50.4)	0.001
35–45	118 (45)	443 (32.9)
Education level
Illiterate	14 (5.3)	89 (6.6)	0.167
Primary	33 (12.6)	118 (8.8)
Intermediate	26 (9.9)	126 (9.4)
Secondary	73 (27.9)	451 (33.5)
University	116 (44.3)	562 (41.8)
Occupation
Housewife	165 (63)	810 (60.2)	0.519
Sedentary/professional	64 (24.4)	379 (28.2)
Manual	22 (8.4)	89 (6.6)
Business	8 (3.1)	41 (3.0)
Police/army	3 (1.1)	27 (2.0)
Housing condition
Villa	193 (73.3)	860 (63.9)	0.005
Traditional house	48 (18.3)	377 (28)
Apartment	21 (8.0)	109 (8.1)
Monthly income (Qatari Riyal)
<5000	17 (6.5)	124 (9.2)
5000–9999	117 (44.7)	497 (36.9)	0.075
10,000–14,999	57 (21.8)	278 (20.7)
15,000–20,000	51 (19.5)	298 (22.1)
>20,000	20 (7.6)	149 (11.1)

* Note: Based on χ² test.

Table 2 reveals the determinants of GDM according to family and medical history. A total of 31.7% of women with GDM had a positive family history of diabetes, compared with 12.8% in normal women (P < 0.001). Consanguinity was higher in women with GDM (52.7%) than in normal women (48.9%). Women who had GDM were significantly more parous (>four children 55.3%; P = 0.004) and obese (59.2%; P < 0.001). Past history of abortion (24% vs 16.9%; P = 0.006) and stillbirth (11.8% vs 7.9%; P = 0.04) were significant past obstetric risks in GDM women compared with the normal group.

Table 2 Determinants of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) according to family and medical history (N = 1608)

Predictors	GDM (n = 262)	Non-GDM (n = 1346)	P value*
Consanguinity	138 (52.7)	658 (48.9)	0.262
Family history of diabetes	83 (31.7)	172 (12.8)	<0.001
Parity number
<2	53 (20.2)	379 (28.2)
2–3	64 (24.4)	364 (27)	0.004
>4	145 (55.3)	603 (44.8)
Appropriate antenatal care	206 (78.6)	1042 (77.4)	0.667
Body mass index
<25	35 (13.4)	478 (35.5)	<0.001
25–30	72 (27.5)	529 (39.3)
>30	155 (59.2)	339 (25.2)
Obstetric risks in the past
Abortion	63 (24)	228 (16.9)	0.006
Stillbirth	31 (11.8)	107 (7.9)	0.040

* Note: Based on χ² test.

Table 3 compares the maternal and neonatal complications between women with GDM and normal women. Women with GDM were more likely to develop pregnancy- induced hypertension (19.1% vs 10.3%; P < 0.001), pre-eclampsia (7.3% vs 3.8%; P = 0.012), antepartum hemorrhage (19.2% vs 14.6%; P = 0.05), preterm labor (19.8% vs 8.5%; P < 0.001), and cesarean delivery (27.9% vs 12.4%; P < 0.001) than those without GDM. Infants born to women with GDM were at increased risk of being born preterm (12.6% vs 8.3%; P = 0.03) and were also significantly more likely to be macrosomic (10.3% vs 5.9%; P = 0.012). Birth trauma was significantly higher in offspring of GDM mothers (8% vs 3%; P < 0.001).

Table 3 Comparison of maternal and neonatal complications between women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and women without GDM (non-GDM)

Variables	GDM (n = 262)	Non-GDM (n = 1346)	P value*
Maternal complications
Pregnancy-induced hypertension	50 (19.1)	138 (10.3)	<0.001
Pre-eclampsia	19 (7.3)	51 (3.8)	0.012
Urinary tract infections	64 (24.4)	353 (26.2)	0.543
Antepartum hemorrhage	50 (19.2)	196 (14.6)	0.050
Preterm labor	52 (19.8)	114 (8.5)	<0.001
Premature rupture of membrane	40 (15.3)	53 (3.9)	<0.001
Labor
Spontaneous	195 (74.4)	943 (70.1)	0.050
Induced	40 (15.3)	187 (13.9)
Augmented	27 (10.3)	216 (16.0)
Cesarean
Elective	50 (19.1)	127 (9.4)	<0.001
Emergency	23 (8.8)	41 (3.0)	<0.001
Neonatal complications
Births
Preterm birth	33 (12.6)	112 (8.3)	0.03
Full-term birth	229 (87.4)	1234 (91.7)
Apgar score at 1 minute
<7	56 (21.4)	342 (25.4)	0.166
≥7	206 (78.6)	1004 (74.6)
Apgar score at 5 minutes
<7	22 (8.4)	131 (9.7)	0.500
≥7	240 (91.6)	1215 (90.3)
Birth weight (g)
Low birth weight (<2500)	12 (4.6)	99 (7.4)	0.012
Normal weight (2500–4000)	223 (85.1)	1167 (86.7)
Macrosomia (>4000)	27 (10.3)	80 (5.9)
Birth defects
Birth trauma	21 (8.0)	41 (3.0)	<0.001
Jaundice	33 (12.6)	83 (6.2)	<0.001
Congenital anomaly	9 (3.4)	38 (2.8)	0.591
Growth retardation	14 (5.3)	41 (3.0)	0.060
Sepsis antibiotics	21 (8.0)	49 (3.6)	0.001

* Note: Based on χ² test.

Table 4 shows the predictors for GDM in women and their offspring using stepwise logistic regression analysis. Low monthly income (odds ratio [OR]: 1.9, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.1–3.2; P = 0.05), advanced maternal age (35–45 years) (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2–2.6; P = 0.001), obesity (OR: 6.6, 95% CI: 4.4–9.9; P < 0.001), family history of diabetes (OR: 3.6, 95% CI: 2.5–5.0; P < 0.001), previous history of abortion (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1–2.0; P = 0.048), macrosomia (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3; P = 0.046), antepartum hemorrhage (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4–3.6; P = 0.001), and emergency cesarean (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.9–3.7; P < 0.001) were the main factors associated with GDM.

Table 4 Stepwise logistic regression analysis for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (N = 1608)

Predictors	OR	95% CI	P value*
Low monthly income (Qatari riyal)	1.9	1.1–3.2	0.050
Age group (years)
<25 (ref)	1		0.001
25–34	1.1	0.7–1.5
35–45	1.7	1.2–2.6
Body mass index
<25 (ref)	1		<0.001
25–30	1.7	1.1–2.7
>30	6.6	4.4–9.9
Family history of diabetes	3.6	2.5–5.0	<0.001
Previous abortion	1.4	1.1–2.0	0.048
Neonatal birth weight (g)
2500–4000 (ref)	1		0.046
<2500	0.5	0.3–0.9
>4000	1.4	1.1–2.3
Antipartum hemorrhage	2.2	1.4–3.6	0.001
Cesarean
Elective (y/n)	2.3	1.6–3.2	<0.001
Emergency (y/n)	2.7	1.9–3.7	<0.001

* Note: Two-sided P value based on −2 log likelihood statistics.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; ref, reference category.

Table 5 presents the global prevalence rate of gestational diabetes mellitus across different countries. Figure 1 compares the main associated factors of GDM between women with GDM and normal women.

Figure 1 Comparison of the associated factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) between women with GDM and normal women (non-GDM).

Notes: *P < 0.001; **P = 0.058.
Abbreviation: APH, antepartum hemorrhage.

Table 5 Global prevalence rate (%) of gestational diabetes mellitus across different countries

Country	Reference	Year	Sample size	Diagnostic criteria	Prevalence rate (%)
Saudi Arabia	Ardawi et al^Citation15	2000	1056	1 hour 50 g GCT, cut-off 130 mg/dL, followed by 3 hours fasting 100 g OGTT after 3 days of 200 g CHO per day	12.5
Bahrain	Al Mahroos et al^Citation14	2001–2002	10,495	1 hour 50 g GCT, cut-off 140 mg/dL followed by 3 hours fasting 75 g OGTT	13.5
Malaysia	Tan et al^Citation31	2006	1600	1 hour 50 g GCT, cut-off 140 mg/dL followed by 3 hours fasting 75 g OGTT	11.4
United Arab Emirates	Agarwal et al^Citation16	2007	1172	2 hours fasting 75 g OGTT, cut-off ≥140 mg/dL	20.6
India	Seshiah et al^Citation30	2008	4151	2 hours fasting 75 g OGTT, cut-off ≥140 mg/dL	17.8
US	Ferrara^Citation5	1996	28,330	1 hour 50 g GCT, cut-off 140 mg/dL, followed by 3 hours fasting 100 g OGTT	4.8
Australia	Moses et al^Citation20	2010	1275	1 hour 50 g GCT, 2 hours 75 g OGTT after overnight fast, cut-off 140 mg/dL (ADIPS) criteria	9.5
Canada	Ryan^Citation18	2010	4150	Random plasma glucose screening and 2 hours 75 g OGTT	17.8
France	Schneider et al^Citation19	2006	11,545	2 hours fasting 75 g OGTT, cut-off ≥140 mg/dL	12.1
Qatar	Present study	2010–2011	1608	2 hours fasting 75 g OGTT, cut-off ≥140 mg/dL	16.3 Qatari: 8.8 Other Arab: 7.5

Abbreviations: ADIPs, Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society; CHO, carbohydrate; GCT, glucose challenge test; OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to examine the prevalence of GDM and its associated factors among women in Qatar. GDM is one of the most common medical complications in pregnancy, and there is a general consensus that the incidence of GDM is increasing globally. Through this prospective cohort study we have examined the prevalence of GDM and its associated factors in mothers and their offspring. The prevalence of GDM in our study sample was 16.3%, which is higher than the rates observed in the neighboring Gulf countries Bahrain¹⁴ and Saudi Arabia (12.5%),¹⁵ but lower than the rate of the United Arab Emirates (20.6%).¹⁶ These rates are comparable to the incidence rate reported in the literature that the incidence of GDM ranges 1%–14% of all pregnancies.¹⁷ Also, the prevalence rate in Qatar found a similar rate in developed countries like Canada (17.8%)¹⁸ and France (12.1%),¹⁹ but was higher than the rate observed in Australia (9.5%)²⁰ and the US (4.8%).⁵ However, the study revealed that GDM was considerably higher among women in Qatar.

This study provides information about the risks of GDM, which could potentially help to incorporate early intervention measures. Our studied women with GDM had a higher risk of adverse health outcomes and were more likely to develop maternal complications. The most common risk factors observed in the studied women with GDM were advanced maternal age, low economic status, increasing maternal BMI, family history of diabetes, and parity. The potential outcomes associated with GDM were maternal complications like pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, cesarean, and neonatal complications like macrosomia, preterm birth, birth trauma, and congenital anomalies. A study conducted in Iran has also confirmed that there is a higher risk of pregnancy complications and adverse fetal outcomes with GDM.²¹

It was reported that socioeconomic status influences the prevalence of DM in pregnancy.²² On the contrary, there was no significant difference in level of education and job status between both the groups except for their advanced maternal age and low monthly income in the study sample. The proportion of GDM increased with increasing age: 13.4% in women below 25 years, 41.6% in women aged 25–34 years, and 45% in women aged 35–45 years. Although we did not find any significant difference between both the groups in their socioeconomic status, women with GDM were often of lower economic status (44.7%) and housewives (63%). This shows that women with GDM may have had a poor understanding of diabetes and its significance. To improve outcomes in women with GDM, vigorous attempts need to be made to raise their educational awareness.

In terms of family and medical history of women with GDM, the data revealed that GDM was more prevalent in women with a family history of diabetes (31.7%), those who were more parous (55.3%), and those who were obese (59.2%) compared with the normal group. Our study showed that overweight and obese women were more prone to developing GDM, as observed in other studies.^23,24 Hence, obese women considering pregnancy should be informed of all the risks of maternal obesity and of how it can complicate their pregnancies. Epidemiologic studies have consistently identified a family history of diabetes and increased parity as primary risk factors for the development of GDM.^25–27

In the study sample, the risk of adverse maternal outcome overall was higher in women with GDM compared with normal women. Women with GDM were at increased risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension (19.1%), pre- eclampsia (7.3%), antepartum hemorrhage (19.2%), preterm labor (19.8%), premature rupture of membrane (15.3%), and have cesarean section (27.9%) than those with a normal glucose tolerance. Similar results have been reported in previous studies^28,29 that pregnancy-induced hypertension (17.9%) and cesarean session (17.1%) were higher in women with GDM than in those with normal glucose. Another study also indicated similar maternal complications among GDM women in China.⁷

For the neonates, the study findings revealed that they are at increased risk of macrosomia, birth injuries, and hyperbilirubinemia, which is similar to the results found in a study by Langer et al.⁴ The study identified an increased risk of macrosomia (10.3%), preterm birth (12.6%), jaundice (12.6%), and birth trauma (8%) among offspring of GDM mothers. This may be explained by the higher rate of pregnancy- induced hypertension and cesarean delivery for fetal distress among GDM mothers. Another study by Hong et al²⁸ reported that infants born to GDM mothers were more likely to be born preterm (10.7% vs 6.4%) or have macrosomia (4.3% vs 1.7%). Prevention of macrosomia and perinatal complications are primary goals in the treatment of women with pregnancies complicated by GDM.

It is evident from the aforementioned study findings that the presence of maternal diabetes mellitus during pregnancy has important consequences for both mother and child. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that advanced maternal age, obesity, family history of diabetes, antepartum hemorrhage, cesarean section, and macrosomia were significant associated risk factors for GDM among women in Qatar. The greatest perinatal risk in GDM cases is fetal macrosomia, which has been associated with a higher rate of cesarean delivery. As seen in the results, GDM is seen more frequently in obese women and can be an important confounder for the association with birth weight.

Out of the six risk factors observed in the current study, obesity is a modifiable factor clearly associated with GDM. Hence, there is a need for more research on the effectiveness of various interventions aimed at reducing weight among women of reproductive age and their impact on pregnancy complications. This study demonstrated that the risk of these outcomes can be reduced by obstetricians with standard treatment consisting of individual dietary and lifestyle advice during pregnancy.

Conclusion

The present study revealed that GDM was higher in women in Qatar and that they were at increased risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, premature rupture of membrane, and cesarean delivery. The risk of GDM increased steadily with maternal BMI, and obesity emerged as an essential risk factor for subsequent GDM. Infants born to women with GDM were significantly more likely to be macrosomic. Congenital anomalies and birth injuries were significantly higher in the offspring of GDM mothers. Advanced maternal age, low monthly income, family history of diabetes, and obesity were the main associated risk factors for GDM.

Acknowledgments

The project was supported partly by Qatar Diabetes Association, Qatar Foundation, and Qatar National Research Fund Grant No. UREP-08-090-3-018. We would also like to thank Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC Research Protocol #10146/10) and the Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar Institutional Review Board (IRB# 2010-0021) for their ethical approval of this study.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.