Variations in Gestational Diabetes and Selected Maternal Risk Factors between Asian American and Pacific Islander Mothers in Utah

In 2000, the U.S. Census separated Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders into two categories. This new classification provides opportunities to examine rates of diabetes between the two populations, but few have addressed differences in rates of gestational diabetes between women belonging to these two groups. Both Asian American and Pacific Islander mothers in Utah have higher rates of gestational diabetes than the rate observed for all births in the Utah population (N=7,395). Initial findings, without risk factor adjustment, pointed to a statistically significantly higher rate of gestational diabetes among Asian American mothers. Simultaneous adjustment for all risk factors increased the impact of being an Asian American mother on the risk of gestational diabetes. On the other hand, Pacific Islander mothers have higher rates of overweight and obesity, yet experience a relatively lower rate of gestational diabetes. They appear to be protected by giving birth at a generally younger age. For both groups, being foreign-born increased the risk of gestational diabetes. The study findings emphasize the utility of disaggregating the broader Asian American/Pacific Islander population in future investigations of gestational diabetes prevalence.