Behavioral Risk Factors for Developing Diabetes among Women with Gestational Diabetes


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

4265.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - Board 7

Abstract #109205

Shumei Yun, MD, MPH, PhD, Section of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 920 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109, 573-522-2800, yuns@dhss.mo.gov and Bao Ping Zhu, MD, MPH, Office of Epidemiology, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 920 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109.

Background: Approximately 40% of women with gestational diabetes developed diabetes in their life-time. The prevalence of behavioral and other risk factors for developing diabetes among women with gestational diabetes are not well documented.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of behavioral and other risk factors for developing diabetes among women with gestational diabetes.

Methods: We used data for non-pregnant women from the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to estimate the prevalence of behavioral and other risk factors for developing diabetes among women with gestational diabetes, and those without diabetes. We used logistic regression to compare the risk behaviors or other risk factors between the two groups of women and to control for socio-demographic variables.

Results: In 2003, 7.6% of non-pregnant US women aged 18 years or older had diabetes, and 1.5% had gestational diabetes. Compared with non-diabetic women, women with gestational diabetes had higher prevalence rates of no leisure-time physical activity (32.0% vs 25.7%), overweight (BMI >= 25 kg/m2, 62.2% vs 49.0%) and obesity (29.4% vs 20.0%). After controlling for socio-demographic variables, women with gestational diabetes were more likely to have no leisure-time physical activity [odds ratio (OR) =1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.79], more likely to be overweight (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.58–2.24) and more likely to be obese (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.37–2.03), compared with non-diabetic women.

Conclusions: Behavioral risk factors for developing diabetes, such as no physical activity, overweight or obese, are more prevalent among women with gestational diabetes than non-diabetic women.

Learning Objectives:

Learning objectives

The audience will learn that women with gestational diabetes are at risk for diabetes. The prevalence of some behavioral risk factors, overweight and obesity is higher among women with gestational diabetes than among those without diabetes with similar socio-demographic characteristics. An effective intervention strategy for preventing or postponing the development of diabetes among women with gestational diabetes should address the risk behaviors and factors identified in this study.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Chronic Disease Epidemiology :Poster

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA