Seasonality of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: a South Australian Population Study

Overview

Journal BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2016 Nov 16

PMID 27843556

Citations 16

Authors

Petra E Verburg

Graeme Tucker

Wendy Scheil

Jan Jaap H M Erwich

Gus A Dekker

Claire T Roberts

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether there is a seasonal variation in the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Research Design And Methods: This retrospective cohort study of 60 306 eligible South Australian live-born singletons during 2007-2011 recorded in the South Australian Perinatal Statistics Collection (SAPSC) examined the incidence of GDM in relation to estimated date of conception (eDoC). Fourier series analysis was used to model seasonal trends.

Results: During the study period, 3632 (6.0%) women were diagnosed with GDM. Seasonal modeling showed a strong relation between GDM and eDoC (p<0.001). Unadjusted and adjusted models (adjusted for maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and chronic hypertension) demonstrated the presence of a peak incidence occurring among pregnancies with eDoC in winter (June/July/August), with a trough for eDoc in summer (December/January/February). As this was a retrospective study, we could only use variables that had been collected as part of the routine registration system, the SAPSC.

Conclusions: This study is the first population-based study to demonstrate a seasonal variation for GDM. Several maternal lifestyle and psychosocial factors associated with seasonality and GDM may be influential in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of GDM. Ambient temperature, physical activity, nutrient intake, and vitamin D levels may affect maternal physiology, and fetal and placental development at the cellular level and contribute to the development of GDM. The mechanisms underlying these possible associations are not fully understood and warrant further investigation.

Citing Articles

Seasonal variation and its interaction with pre-pregnancy BMI for GDM: a large population-based study in Tianjin, China.

Li W, Wang L, Guo J, Dong W, Zhang S, Li W Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):22837.

PMID: 38129497 PMC: 10739738. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49609-w.

Seasonal Pattern in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Poland: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Walkowiak M, Jamka M, Walkowiak M, Gutaj P, Wender-Ozegowska E Biology (Basel). 2023; 12(11).

PMID: 37997974 PMC: 10669897. DOI: 10.3390/biology12111376.

Winter, spring, summer or fall: temporal patterns in placenta-mediated pregnancy complications-an exploratory analysis.

Jeppegaard M, Rasmussen S, Anhoj J, Krebs L Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2023; 309(5):1991-1998.

PMID: 37353564 PMC: 11018682. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07094-6.

Seasonal variation in gestational diabetes mellitus among women in Norway: a national population-based study.

Stalheim A, Iversen M, Jenum A, Sletner L, Stafne S, Qvigstad E BMJ Open. 2023; 13(3):e063725.

PMID: 36918247 PMC: 10016255. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063725.

Environmental health influences in pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

Eberle C, Stichling S BMC Public Health. 2022; 22(1):1572.

PMID: 35982427 PMC: 9389831. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13965-5.

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