title: The risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus: A retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the risk factors for developing GDM among Taiwanese pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort and case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  At a medical centre in Southern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hospitalised pregnant women who were diagnosed with either GDM or normal glucose tolerance (NGT) between 1997 and 2011. The glucose tolerance test results were interpreted according to criteria established by the National Diabetes Data Group for GDM. Participants were divided into either a GDM group (case group) or a normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group (control group) in order to determine the risk factors for GDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  With a retrospective chart review, data regarding demographics, a family history of diabetes, history of gestation, and physiological index for pre- and postpregnancy periods were collected. χ2tests and independent t tests were used to examine the correlations between demographic characteristics and GDM. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with GDM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the comparison between the GDM group (n=106) and the NGT group (n=406) showed that the risk factors for GDM were maternal age, education, a family history of diabetes, and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI).
  Older age, lower levels of education, a family history of diabetes, and higher prepregnancy BMI were significant risk factors for GDM. In addition to performing risk factor assessment, health care providers should proactively promote the importance of GDM screening to pregnant women at their first antenatal visit.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Rd., Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan. Electronic address: pclin@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Pei-Chao
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Rd., Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan. Electronic address: chhung@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chich-Hsiu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Rd., Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tz-You 1st Rd., Kaohsiung City 80756, Taiwan. Electronic address: tfchan@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Te-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Community Medicine Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Linong Street Sec. 2, Taipei City 11221, Taiwan. Electronic address: kuanchia@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Kuan-Chia
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, and Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan City, 70101, Taiwan. Electronic address: yuht12@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yu-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, China Medical University, No. 91, Hsueh-Shih Rd., Taichung City 40402, Taiwan. Electronic address: tyaling@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
authors.lastname: Ya-Ling Tzeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Age; Body mass index; Education status; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Taiwan