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Postpartum dyslipidaemia in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease which should prompt screening for other cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidaemia. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are not routinely screened for cardiovascular risk factors.

Aims

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of dyslipidaemia postpartum in women with GDM.

Methods

The study was performed in a large university hospital. Women with GDM had a fasting lipid profile performed 6 weeks postnatally. Clinical details were obtained from the medical records. Lipid results in our cohort were compared with healthy women of the same age.

Results

The overall prevalence of postpartum dyslipidaemia was 52 % (n = 51). Total cholesterol was raised in 44 % (n = 43), low-density lipoprotein was raised in 33 % (n = 32) and triglycerides were raised in 16 % (n = 16). Of the 51 women with dyslipidaemia, 73 % (n = 37) had more than one abnormality in their lipid profile. Four of the five women with an abnormal postpartum GTT had an abnormal lipid profile. Compared with healthy women of the same age, women with GDM had higher total cholesterol (p = 0.04), higher LDL (p = 0.003), higher triglycerides (p < 0.001) and lower HDL (p < 0.04).

Conclusions

Women with GDM should be screened for dyslipidaemia postpartum and protective cardiovascular interventions offered where appropriate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland

    A. C. O’Higgins, Vicky O’Dwyer, Clare O’Connor, Sean F. Daly, Brendan T. Kinsley & Michael J. Turner

Authors
  1. A. C. O’Higgins
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  2. Vicky O’Dwyer
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  3. Clare O’Connor
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  4. Sean F. Daly
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  5. Brendan T. Kinsley
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  6. Michael J. Turner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. C. O’Higgins.

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No funding was received for this work.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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O’Higgins, A.C., O’Dwyer, V., O’Connor, C. et al. Postpartum dyslipidaemia in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Ir J Med Sci 186, 403–407 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-016-1474-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-016-1474-y

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