title: Prevalence of gestational diabetes among Chinese and South Asians: A Canadian population-based analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is considerable geographic variation in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) rates. We used data from two Canadian provinces, British Columbia (BC) and Alberta (AB), to determine the impact of ethnicity on GDM prevalence and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  All deliveries between 04/01/2004 and 03/31/2010 in AB (n=249,796) and BC (n=248,217) were analyzed. We calculated GDM prevalence among Chinese, South-Asian, and the general population (predominantly Caucasian) women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall GDM prevalence was 4.8% (n=12,036) in AB and 7.2% (n=17,912) in BC. In both provinces, the prevalence of GDM was significantly higher in Chinese (AB:11%; BC:13.5%) and South Asian women (AB:8.4%;BC:13.9%) compared to the general population (AB:4.2%; BC: 5.8%). Chinese women were significantly older (AB:32.7; BC:33.0years) compared to the general population (AB:29.1; BC:30.1years). The odds of GDM relative to the general-population were 2-fold higher for South Asians in both provinces and almost 3-fold higher for Chinese in BC. Among GDM cases, compared to the general population, Chinese and South Asian infants were less likely to be LGA, more likely to be SGA, and had similar neonatal mortality rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to the general population, GDM prevalence is higher in Chinese and South Asian Canadians. Increased maternal age is a major contributor to higher prevalence of GDM in Chinese women. GDM rates were higher in both ethnic and general population women in BC compared to AB, suggesting that in addition to differences in ethnic distribution, differences in diagnostic practices are likely contributing to observed geographic differences in GDM prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 9114- Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, 11350 - 83 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada. Electronic address: ryeung@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Roseanne O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Canadian Vigour Center, 2-132 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada. Electronic address: savu@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Anamarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savu
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Services BC, West Tower, Suite 350, 555 W. 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3X7, Canada. Electronic address: BKinniburgh@phsa.ca.
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kinniburgh
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Services BC, West Tower, Suite 350, 555 W. 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3X7, Canada. Electronic address: LLee-02@phsa.ca.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: susie.dzakpasu@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Susie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dzakpasu
authors.affiliation: Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: chantal.nelson@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 2-040 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada. Electronic address: jeffreyj@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, University of Calgary, Richmond Rd Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, 1820 Richmond Rd. SW, Calgary, AB, T2T 5C7, Canada. Electronic address: Lois.Donovan@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Lois E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 9114- Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, 11350 - 83 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada. Electronic address: edmond.ryan@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Edmond A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Canadian Vigour Center, 2-132 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 2-040 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada. Electronic address: pkaul@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013222:State Medicine; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chinese; Ethnicity; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Maternal age; Prevalence; South Asian