Gestational diabetes in Victoria in 1996: incidence, risk factors and outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Victoria.


METHODS
Population study of all women having singleton births in Victoria in 1996.


METHODS
Probabilistic record linkage of routinely collected data and capture-recapture techniques to provide an estimate of the incidence of GDM.


METHODS
Risk factors for and the adverse outcomes associated with GDM compared with the non-diabetic population by univariate and multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
The estimated incidence of GDM was 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.60%-3.64%). GDM is associated with women who are older, Aboriginal, non-Australian born, or who give birth in a larger hospital. The adverse outcomes associated with GDM pregnancies were hypertension/pre-eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4-1.9), hyaline membrane disease (1.6; 1.2-2.2), neonatal jaundice (1.4; 1.2-1.7) and macrosomia (2.0; 1.8-2.3). Interventions during childbirth were also associated with GDM - for example, induction of labour (3.0; 2.7-3.4) and caesarean section (1.7; 1.6-1.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Women with GDM had increased rates of hypertension, pre-eclampsia, induced labour, and interventional delivery. Their offspring had a higher risk of macrosomia, neonatal jaundice and hyaline membrane disease.
Stone
Christine A
CA
Prevention and National Health Priorities, Public Health Division, Department of Human Services, 17th Floor, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia. christine.stone@dhs.vic.gov.au
McLachlan
Kylie A
KA
Halliday
Jane L
JL
Wein
Peter
P
Tippett
Christine
C
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology