Prevalence and determinants of perinatal mental disorders in women with gestational diabetes in New Zealand: Findings from a national longitudinal study

• Published in: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Vol. 103; no. 3; pp. 459 - 469
• Main Authors: Ohene‐Agyei, Phyllis, Gamble, Greg D., Harding, Jane E., Crowther, Caroline A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Anxiety; Child; depression; Diabetes, Gestational - epidemiology; Female; Gestational age; Gestational diabetes; health‐related quality of life; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Mental depression; Mental Disorders; Mental health; New Zealand - epidemiology; Original; perinatal mental health; Perinatology; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Womens health; New Zealand; anxiety; health-related quality of life; depression; gestational diabetes; perinatal mental health
• ISSN: 0001-6349; 1600-0412; 1600-0412
• DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14738

Introduction Concurrent diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and mental disorders is associated with adverse outcomes for mother and child, but there is limited information about prevalence or which women are at risk. Material and methods This study was a prospective cohort study of women with gestational diabetes from 10 hospitals in New Zealand who reported anxiety (6‐item Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and health‐related quality of life (36‐Item Short‐Form General Health Survey) at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis (baseline), 36 weeks’ gestation, and 6 months postpartum. Potential predictors were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results Among 414 respondents, 17% reported anxiety, 16% vulnerability to depression and 27% poor mental health‐related quality of life at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis. At 36 weeks’ gestation, prevalence decreased for vulnerability to depression (8%) and poor mental health‐related quality of life (20%). Younger maternal age, Pacific ethnicity, previous history of gestational diabetes, and older gestational age at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. At 6 months postpartum the prevalence of mental disorders did not differ from in late pregnancy and they were associated with later gestational age at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis and elevated 2‐hour postprandial glucose concentrations. Conclusions Perinatal mental disorders are common at time of diagnosis among women with gestational diabetes in New Zealand and had decreased by late pregnancy and at 6 months after birth. These disorders are more common among women with specific risk factors who may therefore benefit from additional support. Perinatal mental disorders are significant complications among women with GDM in New Zealand, with younger mothers and those of Pacific ethnicity at increased risk, suggesting the need for additional perinatal mental health support for higher risk groups.