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Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Jan 31;9(1):e87863.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087863. eCollection 2014.

Metabolic syndrome risk after gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yuhong Xu  1 , Shutong Shen  2 , Lizhou Sun  1 , Haiwei Yang  3 , Bai Jin  1 , Xiaohui Cao  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Metabolic syndrome risk after gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yuhong Xu et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: A number of studies have been conducted to investigate the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the results are contradictory. Accordingly, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between these two conditions. The aim was to better understand the risks of MS with prior gestational diabetes.

Methods: Pubmed, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane databases from September 1, 1979 to July 11, 2013 were searched to identify relevant studies. 17 studies containing 5832 women and 1149 MS events were included. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in analysis for each study using a random-effect or fixed-effect model. We also determined heterogeneity among these 17 articles and their publication bias.

Results: Women with a history of gestational diabetes had a significantly higher risk of MS than those who had a normal pregnancy (OR, 3.96; 95% CI, 2.99 to 5.26), but had significant heterogeneity (I (2) = 52.6%). The effect remained robust (OR, 4.54; 95% CI, 3.78-5.46) in the subgroup of Caucasians, but no association (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.64-2.56) was found in Asians. Heterogeneity was reduced (body mass index (BMI) matched group I (2) = 14.2%, BMI higher in the GDM group I (2) = 13.2%) in the subgroup of BMI. In addition, mothers with higher BMI in the GDM group had higher risk of MS than those in the BMI matched group (BMI higher in GDM group OR, 5.39; 95% CI, 4.47-6.50, BMI matched group OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.88-3.41).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated increased risk of MS after gestational diabetes. Therefore, attention should be given to preventing or delaying the onset of MS in GDM mothers, particularly in Caucasian and obese mothers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow diagram of study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Forest plot of overall risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Figure 3
Figure 3. Forest plot of risk of metabolic syndrome after gestational diabetes mellitus grouped by Ethnic origin.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Forest plot of risk of metabolic syndrome after gestational diabetes mellitus grouped by body mass index (BMI).
Figure 5
Figure 5. Begger's test indicating no obvious publication bias of 17 studies included in this meta-analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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