Geospatial analysis of food environment demonstrates associations with gestational diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of most common complications of pregnancy, with incidence rates varying by maternal age, race/ethnicity, obesity, parity, and family history. Given its increasing prevalence in recent decades, covariant environmental and sociodemographic factors may be additional determinants of GDM occurrence. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that environmental risk factors, in particular measures of the food environment, may be a diabetes contributor. We employed geospatial modeling in a populous US county to characterize the association of the relative availability of fast food restaurants and supermarkets to GDM. STUDY DESIGN: Utilizing a perinatal database with >4900 encoded antenatal and outcome variables inclusive of ZIP code data, 8912 consecutive pregnancies were analyzed for correlations between GDM and food environment based on countywide food permit registration data. Linkage between pregnancies and food environment was achieved on the basis of validated 5-digit ZIP code data. The prevalence of supermarkets and fast food restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants for each ZIP code were gathered from publicly available food permit sources. To independently authenticate our findings with objective data, we measured hemoglobin A1c levels as a function of geospatial distribution of food environment in a matched subset (n = 80). RESULTS: Residence in neighborhoods with a high prevalence of fast food restaurants (fourth quartile) was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing GDM (relative to first quartile: adjusted odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-2.19). In multivariate analysis, this association held true after controlling for potential confounders (P = .002). Measurement of hemoglobin A1c levels in a matched subset were significantly increased in association with residence in a ZIP code with a higher fast food/supermarket ratio (n = 80, r = 0.251 P < .05). CONCLUSION: As demonstrated by geospatial analysis, a relationship of food environment and risk for gestational diabetes was identified.

The mechanical PR interval in fetuses of women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fetal mechanical PR interval in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). STUDY DESIGN: Fetal echocardiography was performed for women with ICP and control subjects. Clinical characteristics, total bile acids, and liver profile tests were compared between groups. RESULTS: Fourteen women with ICP and 7 control subjects were enrolled. Total bile acids (28.3 vs 6.2 µmol/L; P < .001), aspartate aminotransferase (53 vs 23 IU/L; P = .002), alanine aminotransferase (63 vs 19 IU/L; P = .002), and the PR interval (124 vs 110 msec; P = .006) were significantly higher in fetuses with ICP than in control fetuses. On multivariable linear regression analysis, only the presence of ICP was associated significantly with an increase in the PR interval (95% confidence interval, 4-24 msec; P = .01). CONCLUSION: The fetal cardiac conduction system is altered in ICP. Further investigation is needed to determine whether fetal echocardiography can help to predict which fetuses are at risk for death that is associated with ICP.

Prevention of T2DM in women with a previous history of GDM.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a high risk of progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Risk factors are similar for GDM and T2DM and include, among others, obesity, family history, and ethnic background. GDM is also associated with the metabolic syndrome. Women with impaired glucose tolerance or "prediabetes" postpartum have the highest risk of progression. In women with impaired glucose tolerance, lifestyle modification or pharmacologic therapy may prevent or delay the onset of T2DM.