Precision stratification of prognostic risk factors associated with outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review
Authors: Semnani-Azad Zhila , Gaillard Romy , Hughes Alice E. , Boyle Kristen E. , Tobias Deirdre K. ,   ADA/EASD PMDI, Tobias Deirdre K. , Merino Jordi , Ahmad Abrar , Aiken Catherine , Benham Jamie L. , Bodhini Dhanasekaran , Clark Amy L. , Colclough Kevin , Corcoy Rosa , Cromer Sara J. , Duan Daisy , Felton Jamie L. , Francis Ellen C. , Gillard Pieter , Gingras Véronique , Gaillard Romy , Haider Eram , Hughes Alice , Ikle Jennifer M. , Jacobsen Laura M. , Kahkoska Anna R. , Kettunen Jarno L. T. , Kreienkamp Raymond J. , Lim Lee-Ling , Männistö Jonna M. E. , Massey Robert , Mclennan Niamh-Maire , Miller Rachel G. , Morieri Mario Luca , Most Jasper , Naylor Rochelle N. , Ozkan Bige , Patel Kashyap Amratlal , Pilla Scott J. , Prystupa Katsiaryna , Raghavan Sridharan , Rooney Mary R. , Schön Martin , Sevilla-Gonzalez Magdalena , Svalastoga Pernille , Takele Wubet Worku , Tam Claudia Ha-ting , Thuesen Anne Cathrine B. , Tosur Mustafa , Wallace Amelia S. , Wang Caroline C. , Wong Jessie J. , Yamamoto Jennifer M. , Young Katherine , Amouyal Chloé , Andersen Mette K. , Bonham Maxine P. , Chen Mingling , Cheng Feifei , Chikowore Tinashe , Chivers Sian C. , Clemmensen Christoffer , Dabelea Dana , Dawed Adem Y. , Deutsch Aaron J. , Dickens Laura T. , DiMeglio Linda A. , Dudenhöffer-Pfeifer Monika , Evans-Molina Carmella , Fernández-Balsells María Mercè , Fitipaldi Hugo , Fitzpatrick Stephanie L. , Gitelman Stephen E. , Goodarzi Mark O. , Grieger Jessica A. , Guasch-Ferré Marta , Habibi Nahal , Hansen Torben , Huang Chuiguo , Harris-Kawano Arianna , Ismail Heba M. , Hoag Benjamin , Johnson Randi K. , Jones Angus G. , Koivula Robert W. , Leong Aaron , Leung Gloria K. W. , Libman Ingrid M. , Liu Kai , Long S. Alice , Lowe William L. , Morton Robert W. , Motala Ayesha A. , Onengut-Gumuscu Suna , Pankow James S. , Pathirana Maleesa , Pazmino Sofia , Perez Dianna , Petrie John R. , Powe Camille E. , Quinteros Alejandra , Jain Rashmi , Ray Debashree , Ried-Larsen Mathias , Saeed Zeb , Santhakumar Vanessa , Kanbour Sarah , Sarkar Sudipa , Monaco Gabriela S. F. , Scholtens Denise M. , Selvin Elizabeth , Sheu Wayne Huey-Herng , Speake Cate , Stanislawski Maggie A. , Steenackers Nele , Steck Andrea K. , Stefan Norbert , Støy Julie , Taylor Rachael , Tye Sok Cin , Ukke Gebresilasea Gendisha , Urazbayeva Marzhan , Van der Schueren Bart , Vatier Camille , Wentworth John M. , Hannah Wesley , White Sara L. , Yu Gechang , Zhang Yingchai , Zhou Shao J. , Beltrand Jacques , Polak Michel , Aukrust Ingvild , de Franco Elisa , Flanagan Sarah E. , Maloney Kristin A. , McGovern Andrew , Molnes Janne , Nakabuye Mariam , Njølstad Pål Rasmus , Pomares-Millan Hugo , Provenzano Michele , Saint-Martin Cécile , Zhang Cuilin , Zhu Yeyi , Auh Sungyoung , de Souza Russell , Fawcett Andrea J. , Gruber Chandra , Mekonnen Eskedar Getie , Mixter Emily , Sherifali Diana , Eckel Robert H. , Nolan John J. , Philipson Louis H. , Brown Rebecca J. , Billings Liana K. , Boyle Kristen , Costacou Tina , Dennis John M. , Florez Jose C. , Gloyn Anna L. , Gomez Maria F. , Gottlieb Peter A. , Greeley Siri Atma W. , Griffin Kurt , Hattersley Andrew T. , Hirsch Irl B. , Hivert Marie-France , Hood Korey K. , Josefson Jami L. , Kwak Soo Heon , Laffel Lori M. , Lim Siew S. , Loos Ruth J. F. , Ma Ronald C. W. , Mathieu Chantal , Mathioudakis Nestoras , Meigs James B. , Misra Shivani , Mohan Viswanathan , Murphy Rinki , Oram Richard , Owen Katharine R. , Ozanne Susan E. , Pearson Ewan R. , Perng Wei , Pollin Toni I. , Pop-Busui Rodica , Pratley Richard E. , Redman Leanne M. , Redondo Maria J. , Reynolds Rebecca M. , Semple Robert K. , Sherr Jennifer L. , Sims Emily K. , Sweeting Arianne , Tuomi Tiinamaija , Udler Miriam S. , Vesco Kimberly K. , Vilsbøll Tina , Wagner Robert , Rich Stephen S. , Franks Paul W. , Perng Wei 
Published: January 2024

Background

The objective of this systematic review is to identify prognostic factors among women and their offspring affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), focusing on endpoints of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) for women, and cardiometabolic profile for offspring.

Methods

This review included studies published in English language from January 1st, 1990, through September 30th, 2021, that focused on the above outcomes of interest with respect to sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and behavioral characteristics, traditional clinical traits, and ‘omics biomarkers in the mothers and offspring during the perinatal/postpartum periods and across the lifecourse. Studies that did not report associations of prognostic factors with outcomes of interest among GDM-exposed women or children were excluded.

Results

Here, we identified 109 publications comprising 98 observational studies and 11 randomized-controlled trials. Findings indicate that GDM severity, maternal obesity, race/ethnicity, and unhealthy diet and physical activity levels predict T2D and CVD in women, and greater cardiometabolic risk in offspring. However, using the Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for studies, the level of evidence was low due to potential for confounding, reverse causation, and selection biases.

Conclusions

GDM pregnancies with greater severity, as well as those accompanied by maternal obesity, unhealthy diet, and low physical activity, as well as cases that occur among women who identify as racial/ethnic minorities are associated with worse cardiometabolic prognosis in mothers and offspring. However, given the low quality of evidence, prospective studies with detailed covariate data collection and high fidelity of follow-up are warranted.