Parenthood and the risk of diabetes in men and women: a 7 year prospective study of 0.5 million individuals

Demographic and geographic distribution of diabetes and pre-diabetes risk in rural settings: results from a cross-sectional, countywide rural health survey in Sullivan County, New York

OBJECTIVE

To perform a detailed characterisation of diabetes burden and pre-diabetes risk in a rural county with previously documented poor health outcomes in order to understand the local within-county distribution of diabetes in rural areas of America.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In 2021, we prospectively mailed health surveys to all households in Sullivan County, a rural county with the second-worst health outcomes of all counties in New York State. Our survey included questions on demographics, medical history and the American Diabetes Association's Pre-diabetes Risk Test.

PRIMARY OUTCOME AND METHODS

Our primary outcome was an assessment of diabetes burden within this rural county. To help mitigate non-response bias in our survey, raking adjustments were performed across strata of age, sex, race/ethnicity and health insurance. We analysed diabetes prevalence by demographic characteristics and used geospatial analysis to assess for clustering of diagnosed diabetes cases.

RESULTS

After applying raking procedures for the 4725 survey responses, our adjusted diagnosed diabetes prevalence for Sullivan County was 12.9% compared with the 2019 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) estimate of 8.6%. In this rural area, diagnosed diabetes prevalence was notably higher among non-Hispanic Black (21%) and Hispanic (15%) residents compared with non-Hispanic White (12%) residents. 53% of respondents without a known history of pre-diabetes or diabetes scored as high risk for pre-diabetes. Nearest neighbour analyses revealed that hotspots of diagnosed diabetes were primarily located in the more densely populated areas of this rural county.

CONCLUSIONS

Our mailed health survey to all residents in Sullivan County demonstrated higher diabetes prevalence compared with modelled BRFSS estimates that were based on small telephone samples. Our results suggest the need for better diabetes surveillance in rural communities, which may benefit from interventions specifically tailored for improving glycaemic control among rural residents.

A study of the effect of number of children on depression among rural older women: empirical evidence from China

The association between early reproductive events and health status in later life has always been of interest across disciplines. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between the number of children born in the early years of elderly women and their depression in later life based on a sample of older women aged 65 years and above with at least one child in rural China. Data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2018, this study used the ordinary least square method to conduct empirical research. This study has found a significant correlation between an increase in the number of children and depression in older rural women. When considering the sex of the child, the number of daughters had a greater and more significant impact on depression. Number of children may exacerbate depression of older women through declining self-rated health and reduced social activity, while increased inter-generational support alleviated depression. The association between number of children born and depression also existed in urban older women, though not significant. Therefore, it is suggested to accelerate the improvement of supporting policies related to childbirth, developing a healthy and scientific fertility culture, and improving rural maternal and child health services. Women should be assisted in balancing their roles in the family and in society, and in particular in sharing the burden of caring for children. Targeted efforts to increase old-age protection for older people.

A roadmap for sex- and gender-disaggregated health research

Sex and gender are fundamental aspects of health and wellbeing. Yet many research studies fail to consider sex or gender differences, and even when they do this is often limited to merely cataloguing such differences in the makeup of study populations. The evidence on sex and gender differences is thus incomplete in most areas of medicine. This article presents a roadmap for the systematic conduct of sex- and gender-disaggregated health research. We distinguish three phases: the exploration of sex and gender differences in disease risk, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes; explaining any found differences by revealing the underlying mechanisms; and translation of the implications of such differences to policy and practice. For each phase, we provide critical methodological considerations and practical examples are provided, taken primarily from the field of cardiovascular disease. We also discuss key overarching themes and terminology that are at the essence of any study evaluating the relevance of sex and gender in health. Here, we limit ourselves to binary sex and gender in order to produce a coherent, succinct narrative. Further disaggregation by sex and gender separately and which recognises intersex, non-binary, and gender-diverse identities, as well as other aspects of intersectionality, can build on this basic minimum level of disaggregation. We envision that uptake of this roadmap, together with wider policy and educational activities, will aid researchers to systematically explore and explain relevant sex and gender differences in health and will aid educators, clinicians, and policymakers to translate the outcomes of research in the most effective and meaningful way, for the benefit of all.

Parity and incident type 2 diabetes in older Chinese women: Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

This study examined the association between parity and incident type 2 diabetes in older Chinese women and estimated the mediation effect of adiposity indicators. A total of 11,473 women without diabetes at baseline from 2003 to 2008 were followed up until 2012. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to assess the association between parity and incident type 2 diabetes, and mediation analysis to estimate the mediation effect of adiposity indicators. Compared to women with one parity, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for incident type 2 diabetes was 0.85 (0.44-1.63), 1.20 (1.11-1.30), 1.28 (1.16-1.41) and 1.27 (1.14-1.42) for women with parity of 0, 2, 3, and ≥ 4, respectively. The proportion of indirect effect (95% CI) mediated by body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage was 26.5% (19.2-52.2%), 54.5% (39.4-108.7%), 25.1% (18.2-49.1%), 35.9% (25.6-74.1%), 50.3% (36.5-98.6%) and 15.1% (- 66.4 to 112.3%), respectively. Compared to women with one parity, women with multiparity (≥ 2) had a higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes and up to half of the association was mediated by abdominal obesity.

Pregnancy loss and subsequent risk of prediabetes, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in couples: Tehran lipid and glucose study

Background

There is limited evidence regarding the impact of pregnancy loss on the subsequent risk of metabolic disorders. We aimed to investigate whether history of pregnancy loss is associated with the subsequent risk of prediabetes (pre-DM), diabetes (DM), and metabolic syndrome (METs) among couples.

Method

In this population-based cohort study, 2765 couples with and without history of pregnancy loss and free of DM, pre-DM, and METs at baseline were included and followed for incidents of DM, pre-DM, and METs by 3-year intervals visits from 1999 to 2018. Detailed data of variables was collected using standard questionnaires, interviews, clinical and laboratory assessments. A modified Poisson regression for binary outcome data with a log link function and robust error variance was used to estimate relative risks (RRs) in couples with and without history of pregnancy loss. Both unadjusted and adjusted models were fitted, and effect measures were calculated.

Result

During a median follow-up of 15 years, females with history of pregnancy loss were experienced more pre-DM (50% vs. 45.5%), DM (28.9% vs. 21.3%), and METs (70% vs. 60.1%) than females without such history. Moreover, history of pregnancy loss increased the risk of METs by 8% among females. The incidence of DM in males with history of pregnancy loss in their spouses was higher than in males without it (28.8% vs. 23.5%). Among males, having a spouse with history of pregnancy loss was positively associated with the risk of pre-DM (RR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.02, 1.23, p = 0.02); furthermore, they were more prone to the risk of METs than females with a history of pregnancy loss (RR = 1.13; 95%CI: 1.07, 1.20, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Although pregnancy loss is a female-specific factor, may foreshadow the subsequent METs, our study identified a higher risk of subsequent pre-DM and METs in males with history of pregnancy loss in their spouses. Pregnancy loss could be considered a possible future risk factor for metabolic disorders in couples.

Number of Births and Risk of Diabetes in China's Older Women

As an important life event in individuals' life, childbirth will affect the health of women to different degrees. More and more attention has been paid to whether the number of births will affect the incident diabetes in elderly women, but there are few related studies. Based on the data of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2018, 6,159 older women are selected as the study population. Logistic regression analyses are used to estimate the relationship between the number of births and diabetes risk. For each additional birth, the odds ratio of maternal diabetes will decrease by 6.9% and the result is significant at the 1% level, especially among mothers having four children or less. The conclusion is equally applicable in the sample of fathers and urban mothers, but the increase in the number of births will increase the risk of diabetes in rural mothers, although this result is not statistically significant. Later age at first birth, later age at last birth, the longer childbearing period, and birth interval will significantly reduce the risk of diabetes.

Number of children and the prevalence of later-life major depression and insomnia in women and men: findings from a cross-sectional study of 0.5 million Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy and parenthood have been associated with physical and mental health. Previous literature concerning the impacts of parity on mental health was inconsistent and lack epidemiolocal evidence. China, with growing mental health problems and changing fertility patterns, faces unique challenges. This study aims to examine the relationship between parity and the prevalence of major depression and insomnia among men and women in the Chinese population.

METHODS

Baseline data from a Chinese population-based study of 512,891 adults (59.01% women) from 10 areas, aged 30-79 were analyzed. Number of children was based on self-report by the participants. Major depression (MD) was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Inventory. Insomnia symptoms were accessed by a questionnaire comparable to that used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between MD/Insomnia and number of children, after stratifications and adjustments.

RESULTS

For women, each additional child was associated with a 9% decreased odds of MD (OR: 0.91, 95%CI: 0.88-0.96), with the associations significant for those who lived in urban areas (OR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.70-0.83), or had a lower education (OR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.85-0.94), or had lower household income (OR: 0.89, 95%CI: 0.85-0.94), or had ever used alcohol (OR: 0.89, 95%CI: 0.84-0.93). The association between per additional children and MD was not significant in men (OR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.97-1.07), but a decreased odd of MD with per additional child was found in men who lived in urban areas (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.71-0.96). For women, each additional child was associated with a 4% decreased odds of insomnia (OR: 0.96, 95%CI: 0.95-0.96). Each additional child was also associated with a 2% decreased odds of insomnia in men (OR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.97-1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

MD and insomnia were inversely associated with number of children in women while the association was not overall significant in men. The association was mediated by socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Future mental health public health programs should address parity and sex differences when designing interventions.

Infertility, Gravidity, and Risk Of Diabetes among High-Risk Women in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study

OBJECTIVE

The extent to which infertility and pregnancy independently increase risk of diabetes and subclinical atherosclerosis is not known.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the DPP Outcomes Study over a 15-year period. We included women who answered questions about gravidity and infertility at baseline (n = 2085). Infertility was defined as > 1 year of unsuccessful attempts to conceive; thus, women could have histories of infertility as well as pregnancy. Risk of diabetes associated with gravidity and infertility was calculated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, treatment arm, body mass index, and pregnancy during the study. Among women who underwent assessment of coronary artery calcification (CAC) (n = 1337), odds of CAC were calculated using logistic regression models with similar covariates.

RESULTS

Among premenopausal women (n = 1075), women with histories of pregnancy and infertility (n = 147; hazard ratio [HR] 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30, 2.49) and women with histories of pregnancy without infertility (n = 736; HR 1.49; 95% CI 1.15, 1.93) had greater diabetes risk than nulligravid women without infertility (n = 173). Premenopausal nulligravid women with histories of infertility had a non-significant elevation in risk, although the number of these women was small (n = 19; HR 1.63; 95% CI 0.88, 3.03). Associations were not observed among postmenopausal women (n = 1010). No associations were observed between infertility or pregnancy with CAC.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy, particularly combined with a history of infertility, confers increased risk of diabetes but not CAC among glucose-intolerant premenopausal women.

Pregnancy, pregnancy loss and the risk of diabetes in Chinese women: findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank

Pregnancy and pregnancy loss may be associated with increased risk of diabetes in later life. However, the evidence is inconsistent and sparse, especially among East Asians where reproductive patterns differ importantly from those in the West. We examined the associations of pregnancy and pregnancy loss (miscarriage, induced abortion, and still birth) with the risk of incident diabetes in later life among Chinese women. In 2004-2008, the nationwide China Kadoorie Biobank recruited 302 669 women aged 30-79 years from 10 (5 urban, 5 rural) diverse localities. During 9.2 years of follow-up, 7780 incident cases of diabetes were recorded among 273,383 women without prior diabetes and cardiovascular disease at baseline. Cox regression yielded multiple-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of diabetes associated with pregnancy and pregnancy loss. Overall, 99% of women had been pregnant, of whom 10%, 53%, and 6% reported having a history of miscarriage, induced abortion, and stillbirth, respectively. Among ever pregnant women, each additional pregnancy was associated with an adjusted HR of 1.04 (95% CI 1.03; 1.06) for diabetes. Compared with those without pregnancy loss, women with a history of pregnancy loss had an adjusted HR of 1.07 (1.02; 1.13) and the HRs increased with increasing number of pregnancy losses, irrespective of the number of livebirths; the adjusted HR was 1.03 (1.00; 1.05) for each additional pregnancy loss. The strength of the relationships differed marginally by type of pregnancy loss. Among Chinese women, a higher number of pregnancies and pregnancy losses were associated with a greater risk of diabetes.