Trends in Factors Affecting Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes of Childbearing Age (2004-2017)

Preconception indicators and associations with health outcomes reported in UK routine primary care data: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Routine primary care data may be a valuable resource for preconception health research and to inform the provision of preconception care.

AIM

To review how primary care data could provide information on the prevalence of preconception indicators and examine associations with maternal and offspring health outcomes.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Systematic review of observational studies using UK routine primary care data.

METHOD

Literature searches were conducted in March 2023 using five databases to identify observational studies that used national primary care data from individuals aged 15-49 years. Preconception indicators were defined as medical, behavioural, and social factors that may impact future pregnancies; health outcomes included those that may occur during and after pregnancy.

RESULTS

From 5259 screened records, 42 articles were included. The prevalence of 37 preconception indicator measures was described for female patients, ranging from 0.01% for sickle cell disease to >20% for each of advanced maternal age, previous caesarean section (among those with a recorded pregnancy), overweight, obesity, smoking, depression, and anxiety (irrespective of pregnancy). Few studies reported indicators for male patients (n = 3) or associations with outcomes (n = 5). Most studies had a low risk of bias, but missing data may limit generalisability of the findings.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrated that routinely collected UK primary care data could be used to identify patients' preconception care needs. Linking primary care data with health outcomes collected in other datasets is underutilised, but could help to quantify how optimising preconception health and care could reduce adverse outcomes for mothers and children.

Beyond individual-level factors that influence family planning uptake among women with diabetes mellitus: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among women increased consistently together with the increase in the overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus globally. One of the components in holistic diabetes care among women are preconception interventions. Family planning usage has been one of the components in preconception care among this group of population, especially among women with unoptimised diabetes mellitus, where family planning may allow disease optimisation prior to pregnancy. This systematic review thus aimed to synthesise evidences and improve understanding on the non-individual factors in influencing family planning practice among women with diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCOHost was systematically searched for empirical studies between 2000 and 2023 that discussed on factors that influenced family planning usage among women with diabetes. This systematic literature review was conducted in accordance to Joanna Briggs Institute's approach for conducting systematic review of associations. Factors were categorised to either individual and non-individual factors. Narrative synthesis approach was adopted that appropriately accommodates the heterogeneity of the reviewed studies.

RESULTS

A total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies included in this review mostly reported individual-level factors that influence family planning practice among women with diabetes mellitus which were mainly the presence of diseases and other sociodemographic characteristics. Only six studies reported factors beyond individual variables which include geographic region, access to care, opinion of significant others, healthcare providers' perception, role of doctors and types of service providers.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review provides evidences that highlighted the gap in knowledge on variables that were beyond individual-level factors which influence family planning practice among women with diabetes mellitus. Further studies that explored structural and systemic factors may benefit future program planning to identify and target modifiable factors.

The Influence of Age, Sex, and Socioeconomic Status on Glycemic Control Among People With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Canada: Patient-Led Longitudinal Retrospective Cross-sectional Study With Multiple Time Points of Measurement

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines for most adults with diabetes recommend maintaining hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels ≤7% (≤53 mmol/mol) to avoid microvascular and macrovascular complications. People with diabetes of different ages, sexes, and socioeconomic statuses may differ in their ease of attaining this goal.

OBJECTIVE

As a team of people with diabetes, researchers, and health professionals, we aimed to explore patterns in HbA1c results among people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in Canada. Our research question was identified by people living with diabetes.

METHODS

In this patient-led retrospective cross-sectional study with multiple time points of measurement, we used generalized estimating equations to analyze the associations of age, sex, and socioeconomic status with 947,543 HbA1c results collected from 2010 to 2019 among 90,770 people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in Canada and housed in the Canadian National Diabetes Repository. People living with diabetes reviewed and interpreted the results.

RESULTS

HbA1c results ≤7.0% represented 30.5% (male people living with type 1 diabetes), 21% (female people living with type 1 diabetes), 55% (male people living with type 2 diabetes) and 59% (female people living with type 2 diabetes) of results in each subcategory. We observed higher HbA1c values during adolescence, and for people living with type 2 diabetes, among people living in lower income areas. Among those with type 1 diabetes, female people tended to have lower HbA1c levels than male people during childbearing years but higher HbA1c levels than male people during menopausal years. Team members living with diabetes confirmed that the patterns we observed reflected their own life courses and suggested that these results be communicated to health professionals and other stakeholders to improve the treatment for people living with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of people with diabetes in Canada may need additional support to reach or maintain the guideline-recommended glycemic control goals. Blood sugar management goals may be particularly challenging for people going through adolescence or menopause or those living with fewer financial resources. Health professionals should be aware of the challenging nature of glycemic management, and policy makers in Canada should provide more support for people with diabetes to live healthy lives.

Diabetes und Schwangerschaft – Update 2022

Gestationsdiabetes mellitus (GDM) ist mit einem Anteil von 80 % die häufigste Form der Hyperglykämie in der Schwangerschaft. Stillen reduziert das Risiko für Typ-2-Diabetes, je länger die Stilldauer, umso größer ist der Effekt. Bei Frauen, die eine Früh- oder eine Totgeburt durchgemacht haben, besteht ein erhöhtes Risiko, selbst frühzeitig zu versterben. Das Potenzial einer Präeklampsieprävention durch niedrig dosierte Azetylsalizylsäuregabe bei Frauen mit Diabetes mellitus wird bei weitem nicht ausgeschöpft. Schwangere reduzieren durch eine COVID-19-Impfung (COVID-19: „coronavirus disease 2019“) ihr Risiko für einen schweren Krankheitsverlauf. Die nach wie vor hohe Rate an perinataler Mortalität bei Schwangerschaften mit Typ-1- und Typ-2-Diabetes kann in erster Linie durch eine Verbesserung von Basisfaktoren bei der perikonzeptionellen Betreuung reduziert werden. Zweizeitiges Screening auf GDM reduziert im Vergleich zum einzeitigen Screening die GDM-Prävalenz und die Medikalisierung ohne Nachteile für die Mütter und ihre Neugeborenen. Die Zulassung von Metformin für Schwangere seit Februar 2022 bedeutet nicht, dass dieses Arzneimittel als primäre Pharmakotherapie für schwangere Frauen empfohlen wird.

Is Secretory Activation Delayed in Women with Type Two Diabetes? A Pilot Study

(1) Background: Breastfeeding duration may be reduced in women with type 2 diabetes. Delayed secretory activation (SA) is associated with poorer breastfeeding outcomes; however, no prior studies have examined SA in women with type 2 diabetes. This pilot study aimed to assess SA in women with type 2 diabetes by assessing breastmilk constituents. Secondary aims were to assess breastfeeding rates postpartum, and contributory factors. (2) Methods: A prospective cohort of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes (n = 18) and two control groups with age- and parity-matched nondiabetic pregnant women (body mass index (BMI)) matched (n = 18) or normal-range BMI (n = 18)) were recruited. Breastmilk constituents (citrate, lactose, protein, and fat) were measured twice daily for 5 days postpartum and compared between groups. Associations between peripartum variables, breastmilk constituents, and breastfeeding at 4 months postpartum were explored. (3) Results: Women with type 2 diabetes had a slower increase in breastmilk citrate concentration postpartum, indicative of delayed SA, compared to both control groups. Higher predelivery insulin doses in women with type 2 diabetes were associated with increasing time to SA. Both women with type 2 diabetes and BMI-matched controls were less likely to fully breastfeed at 4 months, compared with normal-BMI controls. (4) Conclusion: SA is delayed in women with type 2 diabetes when compared to BMI-matched and normal-BMI women. Women with type 2 diabetes are less likely to fully breastfeed, at hospital discharge and by 4 months postpartum, compared to women with normal-BMI.

The hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype is associated with fatty liver and glycometabolic profiles in overweight and obese adults: a cross-sectional study

The present study aimed to distinguish different hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotypes and relevant risks of developing fatty liver and abnormal glycometabolic profiles in overweight/obese adults. A total of 1221 Chinese adults with mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 37 (9) years, 37.3% males and 62.7% females, body mass index (BMI) of 29.0 (4.0) kg/m2, triglyceride (TG) 2.04 (1.45) mmol/L, and waist circumference (WC) 95.8 (10.7) cm were included and classified into four phenotypes: normal TG & normal WC (N-N); normal TG & high WC (N-WC); high TG & normal WC (TG-N); high TG & high WC (TG-WC). Participants in TG-WC group had the highest BMI, WC, blood pressure (BP), insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and fatty liver. Participants within N-WC group had a significantly higher risk of fatty liver (adjusted OR 3.50 [95% CI 2.05–5.97]), as well as TG-N (adjusted OR 2.59 [95% CI 1.61–4.16]) and TG-WC (adjusted OR 4.12 [95% CI 2.28–7.46]). The risk of elevated HOMA-IR was significantly higher in TG-N (adjusted OR 2.16 [95% CI 1.33–3.50]) and TG-WC (adjusted OR 2.04 [95% CI 1.22–3.40]). The risk of elevated HbA1c was significantly higher in the TG-WC (adjusted OR 2.79 [95% CI 1.47–5.31]). Hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype can be a potential and cost-effective method to identify individuals with a high risk of fatty liver and glycometabolic disorders.