title: Postpartum dyslipidaemia in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease which should prompt screening for other cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidaemia. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are not routinely screened for cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of dyslipidaemia postpartum in women with GDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in a large university hospital. Women with GDM had a fasting lipid profile performed 6 weeks postnatally. Clinical details were obtained from the medical records. Lipid results in our cohort were compared with healthy women of the same age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of postpartum dyslipidaemia was 52 % (n = 51). Total cholesterol was raised in 44 % (n = 43), low-density lipoprotein was raised in 33 % (n = 32) and triglycerides were raised in 16 % (n = 16). Of the 51 women with dyslipidaemia, 73 % (n = 37) had more than one abnormality in their lipid profile. Four of the five women with an abnormal postpartum GTT had an abnormal lipid profile. Compared with healthy women of the same age, women with GDM had higher total cholesterol (p = 0.04), higher LDL (p = 0.003), higher triglycerides (p < 0.001) and lower HDL (p < 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with GDM should be screened for dyslipidaemia postpartum and protective cardiovascular interventions offered where appropriate.
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. amyohiggins@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: O'Higgins
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sean F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Brendan T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Kinsley
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Dyslipidaemia; Gestational diabetes mellitus