The Epidemiology of Diabetes in Pregnant Native Canadians: A risk profile

Stewart B Harris; Laura E Caulfield; Mark E Sugamori; Elaine A Whalen; Beth Henning

doi:10.2337/diacare.20.9.1422

Original Articles

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

Diabetes Care 1997 Sep; 20(9): 1422-1425. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.20.9.1422

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.