Proportion of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Attributable to Overweight/Obesity Among South Asian Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Delhi, India

ABSTRACT

To assess the variability in the population attributable fraction (PAF) of GDM to overweight/obesity and the relationship of BMI and GDM across three diagnostic criteria: IADPSG, NICE and Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India (DIPSI). The PAF of GDM to overweight/obesity and the relationship of GDM and BMI were estimated using Poisson regression models in a retrospective cohort of 4317 women who underwent GDM screening during the 2013–2017 period. Multiple linear regression models were applied to associate BMI with fasting, 1‐h and 2‐h plasma glucose values. The PAF of GDM to overweight/obesity for IADPSG, NICE and DIPSI criteria was 34.84%, 28.17% and 18.44%, respectively. There was a quadratic relationship between BMI and GDM for all criteria, and the peak BMI values for IADPSG, NICE and DIPSI criteria were 34.26, 33.28 and 32.01 kg/m ² , respectively. The relationship between BMI and PG values was also quadratic, with peaks in FPG, 1‐h and 2‐h PG at BMI values of 40.91, 35.50 and 33.04 kg/m ² , respectively. PAF of GDM to overweight/obesity among South Asian women varies by the GDM diagnostic criteria. The quadratic relationship between BMI and GDM probability and between BMI and plasma glucose values is a novel observation.