Early postpartum metabolic syndrome in women with or without gestational diabetes: Results from Life after Gestational Diabetes Ahvaz cohort study

Aims

This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome and its potential risk factors, 6–12 weeks postpartum in women with GDM compared to women with normal glucose tolerance.

Methods

LAGAs is an ongoing population-based prospective cohort study that started in March 2015 in Ahvaz, Iran. During 11 months of study progression, 176 women with GDM pregnancy and 86 healthy women underwent a fasting glucose test, 75-g OGTT and fasting lipid tests at 6–12 weeks postpartum. GDM was defined based on IADPSG criteria. Postpartum glucose intolerance was defined according to ADA criteria and metabolic syndrome using 2 sets of criteria.

Results

The overall rate of metabolic syndrome at 6–12 weeks postpartum was 16% by NCEP-ATP III criteria (18.2% in women with GDM and 11.6% in controls) and 19.1% by IDF criteria (21% in women with gestational diabetes and 15.1% in controls). Pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, (OR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.05-3.38, P?=?.03), pregnancy systolic blood pressure (OR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.008–1.52, P?=?.006) and requiring insulin or metformin (OR 3.08, 95% CI: 1.25–7.60, P?=?0.01), were associated risk factors for the presence of MetS in GDM-exposed women. In women with normal glucose during pregnancy, pre-pregnancy BMI ≥25?kg/m² was a risk factor of metabolic syndrome (OR 2.82, 95% CI: 1.11–7.15, P?=?.02).

Conclusion

The rate of metabolic syndrome in women with or without GDM at 6–12 weeks postpartum is high particularly in women with high BMI. An early postpartum prevention and screening program for cardiovascular risk factors is important for women with GDM.