COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on gestational diabetes mellitus prevalence

Aim: Although an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been noted in women exposed to stressful conditions and traumatic events, limited information is avail-able about such risk in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was designed as a non-concurrent case-control study on the preva-lence of GDM, defined according to IADPSG 2010, in women giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic in the hot spot of Northeast Italy from March 9th to May 18th, 2020, with an antecedent puerperae-matched group whose women had given birth in 2019. Results: Analysis revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, GDM prevalence was significantly higher than in 2019 (GDM, 48/533, 9 vs 86/637, 13.5%, p = 0.01), as illus-trated by a higher GDM prevalence in 5/6 months of the final semester of 2020. In addition, logistic regression analysis confirmed a statistically significant temporal relationship between experiencing the lockdown during the first trimester of gestation and later GDM incidence (t = 2.765, P = 0.012), with an 34% increase in mean number of GDM diagnoses per month (antilog of the parameter = 1.34). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted GDM prevalence in 2020 com -pared to 2019, especially for pregnant women in the 1st trimester of gestation. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.