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Cited by 12Gestational Diabetes Research and ManagementDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and LipoproteinsDiabetes Management and Research

Meta-analysis of risk factors for recurrent gestational diabetes mellitus

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Lu, Yuan, Huang, Jianchun, Yan, Jian, Wei, Qingfang, He, Meirong, Yuan, Chunlan, Long, Yu·2025·BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
DOI 10.1186/s12884-025-07367-9PMC PMC11889910
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: To comprehensively evaluate the risk factors for recurrent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in women with a history of GDM during re-pregnancy. METHODS: Articles about risk factors for recurrent GDM were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from the date of establishment to January 2023. Meta-analysis of risk factors for recurrent GDM was performed using STATA/SE 15.1 software. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 15 case-control studies and 4 cohort studies, involving 11,385 patients. Among them, 2,462 patients experienced recurrent GDM, while 2,909 did not. The analysis of case-control studies revealed a GDM recurrence rate of 48%. Meta-analysis identified several significant risk factors for GDM recurrence: advanced maternal age at subsequent pregnancy [ES = 3.02, 95% CI (1.24,2.79), P = 0.003], increased BMI prior to the subsequent pregnancy [ES = 2.23, 95% CI (1.04,1.72), P = 0.026], elevated 1-hour plasma glucose levels in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during previous pregnancy [ES = 2.79, 95% CI (1.11,1.78), P = 0.005], increased 2-hour OGTT glucose levels in previous pregnancy [ES = 2.75, 95% CI (1.11,1.91), P = 0.006], and previous delivery of macrosomia [ES = 3.48, 95% CI (1.38,3.18), P = 0.001]. All these factors showed statistically significant differences between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups. Pregnant women with a history of GDM can reduce the risk of recurrence by adopting a reasonable pregnancy plan, such as avoiding advanced maternal age, managing body weight, controlling blood glucose levels during pregnancy, and losing weight before conception. CONCLUSION: Advanced maternal age, elevated BMI before subsequent pregnancy, increased OGTT levels during the previous pregnancy, and the delivery of macrosomia are significant risk factors for recurrent GDM.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Lu, Y., Huang, J., Yan, J., Wei, Q., He, M., Yuan, C., & Long, Y.
Affiliations
  • First Affiliated Hospital of GuangXi Medical University (CN)
  • The Second Nanning People's Hospital (CN)
  • Guangxi Medical University (CN)
Corresponding author
Long, Yu
ORCID
Venue
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2025-03-08
Volume
25
Issue
1
Pages
257-257
ISSN
1471-2393 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12884-025-07367-9
PMC
PMC11889910
OpenAlex
W4408257031
Cited by
12
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 4
FWCI
2.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
Keywords
risk factors, advanced maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, oral glucose tolerance test, maternal weight management
MeSH terms
Adult, Blood Glucose, Female, Glucose Tolerance Test, Humans, Maternal Age, Pregnancy, Recurrence, Risk Factors, Body Mass Index, Case-Control Studies, Diabetes, Gestational

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