Likelihood of history of depression elevated in women with GDM, after controlling for confounders
TUESDAY, April 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are more likely to have a history of depression, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing.
Mary Byrn, Ph.D., R.N., and Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., R.N., from Loyola University Chicago, examined whether women with GDM had more symptoms of depression than women without GDM. Participants included 65 pregnant women with GDM and 70 without GDM, all between 24 and 40 weeks of gestation. Symptoms of depression were assessed in pregnant women attending routine prenatal care visits.
The researchers identified significant symptoms of depression in 20 percent of women with GDM and 13 percent of women without GDM. After adjustment for age, income, marital status, body mass index, and gravida, the likelihood of having a history of depression was increased 3.79-fold for women with GDM (P = 0.04) compared to women without GDM. For women with and those without GDM, significant predictors of depression were anxiety and perceived stress.
“Results suggest that symptoms of depression are common during the antepartum period, thus assessment and education regarding this disorder are important,” the authors write. “In addition, a history of depression may be a risk factor for the development of GDM.”
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