Incidence of Risk Factors on the Onset of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: An Empirical Research in Southern Italy

In this study the authors evaluated the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and the incidence in determining the occurrence thereof, given by the following risk factors: age, family history for Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking, diet, macrosomia in previous pregnancies and physical activity. To this end, they investigated a cohort of 61 pregnant women, who had at least one risk factor, in a total period of nine months, during which women checked in the Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology of the Hospital “F. Ferrari” in Casarano (Lecce) Italy, and were subjected to an anamnestic investigation and then to a diagnostic test (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, OGTT 75 g). The anamnesis has allowed to identify the type of risk factors that are present in the population, while the OGTT has allowed to diagnose gestational diabetes. Later, an analysis of the cross-collected data was performed in order to evaluate the percentage incidence of the disease, in relation to risk factors observed. The authors’ results confirmed a prevalence of GDM of 26.23% and the existence of a close association between risk factors and GDM. In particular, the risk factors, macrosomia, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, a hypercaloric diet, light physical activity, and age ≥ 35 years, seem to have more influence than smoking and family history for DM, inducing the onset of the illness.