The Epidemiology of Diabetes in Pregnant Native Canadians: A risk profile
- Stewart B Harris, MD,
- Laura E Caulfield, PHD,
- Mark E Sugamori, MD,
- Elaine A Whalen, RN and
- Beth Henning, MD
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario London
- Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario London
- University of Toronto Sioux Lookout Program, Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada
- Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Stewart B.Harris, MD, Thames Valley Family Practice Research Unit, 100 Collip Circle,Suite 245, U.W.O. Research Park, London, Ontario, Canada N6G 4×8. Email: sharrisl{at}julian.uwo.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] and NIDDM) and to identify risk factors in the development of GDM in a native population in northwestern Ontario, Canada.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of 1,305 singleton deliveries among Ojibwa-Cree women from northwestern Ontario, Canada, was conducted from 1990 to 1993 inclusive. GDM was diagnosed using a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and defined according to standard guidelines.
RESULTS The overall prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy (NIDDM and GDM) was 11.6% (152 of 1,305) with a GDM prevalence of 8.4% (110 of 1,305). Among 741 women with complete data, prevalence rates increased with age, peaking at 46.9% in the age-group ≥ 35 years. Significant risk factors for GDM included older maternal age, multiparity, prepregnancy obesity, a family history of diabetes, and a history of GDM in previous pregnancies.
CONCLUSIONS Diabetes in pregnancy among Ojibwa-Cree reported here represent the highest rates reported to date in a Canadian population. The high rates of maternal obesity and relative young age of this population further highlight the urgent need for diabetes screening and prevention in this population.
- Received February 26, 1997.
- Accepted May 23, 1997.
- Copyright © 1997 by the American Diabetes Association
