Systematic review identifies GDM risk factors in low- and middle-income countries

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus in low- and middle-income countries. The analysis included forty-seven studies from this specific population setting. The review aims to clarify the epidemiology of GDM risk in these regions where resources may be limited.

The authors report that several factors were significantly associated with an increased risk of GDM. These identified factors include maternal age greater than or equal to 30, multiparity, urban residence, pre-pregnancy obesity with a BMI greater than or equal to 25 kg/m, family history of diabetes, history of GDM, pre-hypertension, preeclampsia, PCOS, and physical inactivity. Specific effect sizes or absolute numbers were not reported in the source data.

The review notes that adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability were not reported. The authors do not provide p-values or confidence intervals for the individual associations. The study limitations regarding causality and certainty were not explicitly detailed in the provided text. Funding or conflicts of interest were not reported.

The practice relevance emphasized by the authors is the need for prevention and screening strategies integrated within maternal pregnant health programs for many low- and middle-income countries. Clinicians should consider these risk factors when assessing pregnant patients in similar settings, though the observational nature of the data precludes definitive causal claims.