Incidence and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus in antenatal mothers in Goa, India

ABSTRACT

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) accounts for almost 90% of all pregnancies complicated by diabetes. Its prevalence in the Indian population ranges from 5.5% to 11.5 %.Methods: The present study was undertaken to assess the incidence of GDM among antenatal mothers admitted in Goa Medical College for a period of 18 months and also to study the risk factors associated with GDM amongst such cases.Results: Present study revealed that among 7717 antenatal mothers who were admitted and delivered in our Hospital, 424 women were diagnosed with GDM. Of these women diagnosed with GDM, almost one third were in the age group of 31- 35 years (35.8%); 56.2 % of these women were multigravidas. Advancing maternal age, rising parity, obesity, family history of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and past history of GDM were among the risk factors found to be significantly associated with GDM.Conclusions: The incidence of GDM in present study population was 5.49%. Advancing maternal age, maternal obesity, family history of DM and past history of GDM were found to be important determinants of GDM.