title: Risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus: ethnic disparities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of poor maternal and infant health outcomes; therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the ethnic disparities and identify the risk factors for GDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional analysis using patient records from a hospital located in the Puli area of Central Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A teaching hospital located in a rural mountainous area of Central Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2002 and 2012, the hospital admitted 154 patients (107 non-aborigines, 30 aborigines, and 17 non-Taiwanese) who exhibited glucose intolerance during their pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  GDM was confirmed using the oral-glucose-tolerance-test administered in dose of either 100 g or 75 g. The incidence and risk factors for GDM in the aboriginal and non-aboriginal women was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We excluded the patients who had overt diabetes or were non-Taiwanese. Thus, 132 patients (28 aboriginal and 104 non-aboriginal women; mean age 30 years) were enrolled in the final study. A total of 51 patients (15 aboriginal, 36 non-aboriginal women) had GDM, which was more prevalent among the aboriginal mothers (53.6% versus 34.6%). The risk factors for GDM among the aboriginal women were persistent glycosuria and prior macrosomia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Taiwanese aboriginal women exhibited higher incidence of GDM; thus, we recommend that early screening and health education for pregnant aboriginal women be provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Puli Christian Hospital, Puli, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Fen
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Puli Christian Hospital, Puli, Taiwan.|Department of Medical Education and Research, Puli Christian Hospital, Puli, Taiwan.|National Chi Nan University, Puli, Taiwan.|Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan.|National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan.|Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan.|National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan.|Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D044382:Population Groups; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: aboriginal; ethnicity; gestational diabetes mellitus