Is grand multiparity associated with an increased risk of dysglycaemia?
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the risk of diabetes and IGT/IFG with grand multiparity.


METHODS
Women, aged > or =25 years, from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study and the Crossroads Undiagnosed Disease Study (a rural study in Victoria, Australia), participated in a household census (response 67 and 70%, respectively), subsequently attending a biomedical examination that included an oral glucose tolerance test (58% [6198] and 69% [819]).


RESULTS
After adjusting for age, obesity and socio-economic status, diabetes, but not IGT/IFG, was less common among women with a parity of 1 to 2 (odds ratio [OR]=0.64 [0.48-0.84]) and 3 to 4 (OR=0.72 [0.53-0.96]) than in grand multiparous women. This relationship was unrelated to past hysterectomy, use of the oral contraceptive pill or menopausal status.


CONCLUSIONS
Grand multiparity is associated with an increased risk of diabetes but not of IGT/IFG. We postulate that parity accelerates transition from IGT/IFG to diabetes, more than it does transition from normal glucose tolerance to IGT/IFG.
Simmons
D
D
University of Auckland Waikato Clinical School, Waikato Hospital, Private Bag 3200, Pembroke Street, Hamilton, New Zealand. simmonsd@waikatodhb.govt.nz
Shaw
J
J
McKenzie
A
A
Eaton
S
S
Cameron
A J
AJ
Zimmet
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000209:etiology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female