The impact of regional origin on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in a multiethnic European cohort

Women with migration background present specific challenges related to risk stratification and care of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of ethnic origin on the risk of developing GDM in a multiethnic European cohort. Pregnant women were included at a median gestational age of 12.9 weeks and assigned to the geographical regions of origin: Caucasian Europe ( = 731), Middle East and North Africa countries (MENA, = 195), Asia ( = 127) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA, = 48). At the time of recruitment maternal characteristics, glucometabolic parameters and dietary habits were assessed. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in mid-gestation for GDM diagnosis. Mothers with Caucasian ancestry were older and had higher blood pressure and an adverse lipoprotein profile as compared to non-Caucasian mothers, whereas non-Caucasian women (especially those from MENA countries) had a higher BMI and were more insulin resistant. Moreover, we found distinct dietary habits. Non-Caucasian mothers, especially those from MENA and Asian countries, had increased incidence of GDM as compared to the Caucasian population (OR 1.87, 95%CI 1.40 to 2.52,