Early age at menarche and gestational diabetes mellitus risk: Results from the Healthy Baby Cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
Early age at menarche has been reported to increase type 2 diabetes risk, but little is known of its impact on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. The aim of this study was to examine the association between age at menarche and plasma glucose levels as well as GDM risk.


METHODS
A total of 6900 pregnant women from the Healthy Baby Cohort Study were included in our analysis. Age at menarche was self-reported and categorized into five groups (9-11, 12, 13, 14 and 15-18 years of age). GDM was diagnosed using the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria. Comparisons of plasma glucose levels according to age at menarche categories were performed using analysis of covariance. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between age at menarche and GDM risk.


RESULTS
Of our 6900 participants, 1015 (14.7%) were diagnosed with GDM. Mean age at menarche was 13.1±1.2 years. Early age at menarche (9-11 years) was associated with higher fasting, 1-h and 2-h plasma glucose levels (all P<0.05) compared with menarche at age 13 years. Furthermore, early age at menarche was linked to increased GDM risk after adjusting for potential confounders (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06-1.87).


CONCLUSIONS
Early age at menarche is an independent risk factor for GDM and, as such, may help to identify women at higher GDM risk who would benefit from early preventative strategies.
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030 Hubei, Wuhan, China.
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H
Li
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030 Hubei, Wuhan, China.
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L
Shen
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030 Hubei, Wuhan, China.
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L
Song
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030 Hubei, Wuhan, China.
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B
Liu
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030 Hubei, Wuhan, China.
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X
Zheng
Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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S
Xu
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030 Hubei, Wuhan, China. Electronic address: wangyoujie@mails.tjmu.edu.cn.
Y
Y
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Body mass index; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Insulin resistance; Menarche; Risk factor