Women with high BP during pregnancy may develop diabetes later on: Study

Canada: Women with prior hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, finds a recent study in the journal Diabetologia. The study results indicate that postpartum diabetes prevention and screening counseling may be warranted in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

The association between a history of HDP and subsequent type 2 diabetes remains inconclusive. Grace Zhao, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, and colleagues reviewed the most recent evidence to quantify the association of previous HDP with incident diabetes.

For the purpose, the researchers performed a systematic search of online databases up to 17 February 2020 and identified observational studies of the association between HDP (pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension) and incident diabetes. It excluded studies of women with pre-pregnancy diabetes. 

Two independent reviewers screened citations and abstracted results. Study quality was assessed in duplicate using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Random-effects models were used to pool effect estimates. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic.