title: Physical activity and gestational diabetes mellitus among Hispanic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies in predominantly non-Hispanic white populations have suggested that physical activity during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). There are few such studies in Hispanic women, a group at increased risk for GDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study of household/caregiving, occupational, sports/exercise, and active living habits and the risk of GDM among 1006 Hispanic (predominantly Puerto Rican) prenatal care patients in western Massachusetts from 2000 to 2004. Prepregnancy, early pregnancy, and midpregnancy physical activity was assessed using the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 women (3.3%) were diagnosed with GDM, and 119 women (11.8%) were diagnosed with abnormal glucose tolerance. There were no significant associations between GDM risk and occupational and active living activities in prepregnancy, early pregnancy, and midpregnancy or with a change in levels of household/caregiving, occupational, and active living activities from prepregnancy to during pregnancy. However, after controlling for age and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), women in the highest quartile of prepregnancy (OR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.8, p(trend) = 0.03) and midpregnancy (OR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.8, p(trend) = 0.004) household/caregiving activities as well as midpregnancy sports/exercise (0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.7, p(trend) = 0.12) had a reduced risk of GDM compared with women in the lowest quartile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings in this Hispanic population, although based on small numbers of cases, are consistent with prior research among predominantly non-Hispanic white populations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9304, USA. LCT@schoolph.umass.edu
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chasan-Taber
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pekow
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sternfeld
authors.forename: Joann E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Caren G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Markenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D009043:Motor Activity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors