Spontaneous abortion tied to increased gestational diabetes risk in future pregnancies: Study

China: A previous history of spontaneous abortion (SAB) was linked to an elevated risk of gestational diabetes (GD) in subsequent pregnancies. More study is needed to elucidate this connection and investigate the probable molecular processes underlying it, says an article published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

Gestational diabetes is among the most prevalent and serious pregnancy problems. Identifying pregnant women who are at high risk of gestational diabetes is critical for early prevention and management. Yan Zhao and colleagues undertook this investigation to determine if a history of spontaneous or induced abortion is connected with an increased risk of GD in subsequent pregnancies.

A tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China, undertook this retrospective cohort research. Pregnant women who received standard prenatal care from January 2014 to December 2019 were included in the study. From December 2020 through June 2021, data were analyzed. Maternal abortion history, including SAB and induced abortion, was obtained from medical records. Where GD was diagnosed with a 75-g diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test, the main outcomes and measures were assessed. A multivariable-adjusted log-binomial analysis was performed to determine the relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of GD linked with abortion history.

The findings of this study were as follow:

1. Among the 102 259 pregnant women included in the study, 14 579 (14.3%) had just SAB, 17 935 (17.5%) had only induced abortion, and 4017 (3.9%) had both SAB and induced abortion.

2. A total of 12 153 GD patients were detected, and the prevalence of GD in this group was 11.9%.

3. Pregnant women who had just SAB or both SAB and induced abortion were more likely to develop GD.

4. SAB history was associated with GD in a number-dependent way.

5. When compared to pregnant women with no history of abortion, the RR for GD rose by 18% for those with 1 SAB, 41% for those with 2 SABs, and 43% for those with more than 2 SABs.

6. However, there is no link between a history of GD and induced abortion was seen.

In conclusion, a history of SAB was shown to be strongly related to an elevated risk of GD in subsequent pregnancies in this cohort research. More study is needed to elucidate this connection and investigate the probable molecular processes underlying it.

Reference:

Zhao Y, Zhao Y, Fan K, Jin L. Association of History of Spontaneous or Induced Abortion With Subsequent Risk of Gestational Diabetes. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e220944. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0944