To identify ethnic differences among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a multiethnic cohort. This observational study included pregnant women with GDM (IADPSG criteria) attending a tertiary centre between January 2020-December 2023, classified according to their ethnic group as White, Black, Asian, or Other. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed. A total of 633 women (513 White, 64 Black, 32 Asian, and 24 Other/Middle Eastern) were considered eligible for inclusion. Asian women had higher HbA1c than White, Black, and Other (5.5% (37 mmol/mol) vs. 5.1% (32 mmol/mol), 5.2% (33 mmol/mol), and 5.1% (32 mmol/mol), respectively, p < 0.001). The mean birth weight was higher in Asian than White, Black, or Other groups (3429 g vs. 3102 g, 3279 g, and 3159 g, respectively, p = 0.05). Insulin therapy during pregnancy was more common in Asian and Other/Middle Eastern than White and Black women (71% and 79.2% vs. 54.5% and 52.4%, respectively, p = 0.03) and was independently associated with Middle Eastern ethnicity (aOR 6.73, 95% CI 1.31–34.46, p = 0.02). This study confirmed the presence of ethnic differences in pregnancies complicated by GDM and the higher metabolic burden in Asian and Middle Eastern populations. Ethnicity-specific strategies for GDM prevention and early screening should be implemented.
Athanasiadou et al. (Tue,) studied this question.