Ute Linnenkamp1,2, Gregory Gordon Greiner2,3, Burkhard Haastert3,4, Heinke Adamczewski5, Matthias Kaltheuner5, Dietmar Weber5, Andrea Icks1,3. 1. Institute for Health Services Research and Health Economics, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. 2. German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Partner Düsseldorf, München-Neuherberg, Germany. 3. Institute for Health Services Research and Health Economics, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. 4. mediStatistica, Wuppertal, Germany. 5. winDiab gGmbH, wissenschaftliches Institut der niedergelassenen Diabetologen, Neuss, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes (GDM) in the short term is associated with various complications during pregnancy; however, in the long run, women have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, short- and long-term follow-up postpartum is recommended. METHODS: We assessed the proportion of postpartum diabetes screening among 12,991 women with their first GDM-diagnosed pregnancy in the study period in the nationwide German GestDiab register between 2015 and 2017. In addition to assessing prevalence, we assessed if the probability of postpartum screening was associated with maternal characteristics or pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 38.2% (95% CI 32.8%-43.7%) of our sample underwent postpartum diabetes screening, irrespective of its timing. Around 50% of women (19.3% of the total sample) undertook the screening in the recommended time frame of 6-12 weeks postpartum. We found that age, native language, pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking status, number of previous pregnancies, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels as well as previous pregnancies with GDM and treatment with insulin were associated with participation in the postpartum diabetes screening in our sample. CONCLUSION: In our study, more than 60% of the women with GDM did not participate in postpartum diabetes screening. This is a missed opportunity in a high-risk population to detect glucose intolerance. Consequently, appropriate interventions to prevent the progression to T2DM cannot be initiated. Further research should investigate barriers and enabling factors and allow developing a multilevel approach for GDM postpartum care.
BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes (GDM) in the short term is associated with various complications during pregnancy; however, in the long run, women have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, short- and long-term follow-up postpartum is recommended. METHODS: We assessed the proportion of postpartum diabetes screening among 12,991 women with their first GDM-diagnosed pregnancy in the study period in the nationwide German GestDiab register between 2015 and 2017. In addition to assessing prevalence, we assessed if the probability of postpartum screening was associated with maternal characteristics or pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 38.2% (95% CI 32.8%-43.7%) of our sample underwent postpartum diabetes screening, irrespective of its timing. Around 50% of women (19.3% of the total sample) undertook the screening in the recommended time frame of 6-12 weeks postpartum. We found that age, native language, pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking status, number of previous pregnancies, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels as well as previous pregnancies with GDM and treatment with insulin were associated with participation in the postpartum diabetes screening in our sample. CONCLUSION: In our study, more than 60% of the women with GDM did not participate in postpartum diabetes screening. This is a missed opportunity in a high-risk population to detect glucose intolerance. Consequently, appropriate interventions to prevent the progression to T2DM cannot be initiated. Further research should investigate barriers and enabling factors and allow developing a multilevel approach for GDM postpartum care.