Gestational Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disorders

Background: Gestational diabetes (GD) is identified as a risk factor for increasing the onset of cardiovascular disorders (CVD). However, it is not clear whether this risk is linked with the intercurrent pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, it is essential to identify markers and risk factors responsible for the pathogenesis of CVD and develop therapeutic strategies to decrease the cardiovascular health burden in affected women.

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of GD on the future onset of CVD and assess the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus in this context.

Study Design: A cohort study was conducted in Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases Karachi Pakistan from June 2017 to June 2018. A total of 227 females who give birth to at least one kid were included in this study. Females with previous history of cardiovascular disorders and any other chronic disorders were excluded from this study. Using a biennial questionnaire behavioral, life style characters and health outcomes were evaluated. Multivariable Cox model was used to measure hazardous risk and ratio for cardiovascular disorders with 95 % confidence interval.

Results: In this study, 11.8% of participants were diagnosed with gestational diabetes with a mean age of 31.6 ± 2.6 years. 28% of women with GD were developed hypertension later on compared to the non-GD participants (8%), indicating a positive association between GD and hypertension. A multivariate Cox analysis revealed that women with GD had a 28% increased risk of incidence of hypertension as compared to the non-GD group (HR. 1.24 [95% CI 1.13 – 1.65); P<0.01).

Conclusion: Females with GD are at higher risk for developing CVD later in their life. This association might be due to obesity and sedentary lifestyle.