Association of Prepregnancy Cardiometabolic Risk Factors With Gestational Diabetes Among Asian Populations in the US (JACC Asia November 2024)-Article: Association of Prepregnancy Cardiometabolic Risk Factors With Gestational Diabetes Among Asian Populations in the US

Article: Association of Prepregnancy Cardiometabolic Risk Factors With Gestational Diabetes Among Asian Populations in the US

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The study explores the relationship between prepregnancy cardiometabolic factors such as hypertension and body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of gestational diabetes among Asian American populations in the U.S. Utilizing data from the National Vital Statistics System from 2016 to 2019, it highlights that Asian individuals, particularly those with Asian ancestry, have the highest prevalence of gestational diabetes among all racial groups at 12.3%.<br /><br />Gestational diabetes is associated with significant long-term health risks, including maternal cardiovascular disease and the eventual development of type 2 diabetes. Among Asian subgroups, the highest probabilities of gestational diabetes were noted within Japanese and Korean American populations, particularly at lower BMI values (23 kg/m²).<br /><br />The study also found that Asian women born outside the U.S. exhibited higher probabilities of gestational diabetes, suggesting that U.S. nativity influences the risk. It indicates substantial variation across Asian subgroups and emphasizes that Asian Americans tend to develop gestational diabetes at lower BMI thresholds compared to other racial groups, often even under the current clinical screening threshold of 23 kg/m² for Asian populations.<br /><br />The authors highlight the importance of personalized screening and intervention approaches for gestational diabetes, advocating for early and specific screening strategies that consider the unique risks faced by Asian American women and those born outside the U.S. These findings could challenge and inform new clinical guidelines for gestational diabetes screening, stressing the limitations of applying universal measures such as BMI across diverse ethnic populations. <br /><br />The researchers call for further exploration into non-weight-related risk factors for gestational diabetes in Asian populations, owing to lower population attributable fractions for obesity compared to other racial groups. Overall, the study suggests a need for tailored healthcare strategies to mitigate gestational diabetes risk within these communities.

Keywords

prepregnancy cardiometabolic factors

hypertension

body mass index

gestational diabetes

Asian American populations

National Vital Statistics System

maternal cardiovascular disease

type 2 diabetes

personalized screening

non-weight-related risk factors