Antenatal Depression and Risk of Gestational Diabetes, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, and Postpartum Quality of Life

Aims: To determine the impact of depressive symptoms on pregnancy outcomes and postpartum quality of life in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Methods: 1843 women from a prospective cohort study received universal GDM screening with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression questionnaire was completed before GDM diagnosis was communicated and in GDM women in early postpartum. All participants completed the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) health survey postpartum. Results: Women who developed GDM (231; 12.5%) had significantly more often depressive symptoms than NGT (1612; 87.5%) women [21.3% (48) vs 15.1% (239), odds ratio (OR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.08-2.16), P=0.017]. Compared to GDM women without depressive symptoms, depressed GDM women attended less often the postpartum OGTT [68.7% (33) vs 87.6% (155), P=0.002], remained more often depressed [37.1% (13) vs 12.4% (19), P<0.001], and had lower SF-36 scores postpartum. There were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between both groups. Rates of labor inductions were significantly higher in the NGT group with depressive symptoms compared to the nondepressed NGT group [31.7% (75) vs 24.7% (330), adjusted OR (aOR) 1.40, 95% CI (1.01-1.93), P=0.041]. NGT women with depressive symptoms had lower SF-36 scores (P<0.001) postpartum compared to nondepressed NGT women. Conclusions: Women with antenatal symptoms of depression develop more often GDM. GDM women with depressive symptoms remain more often depressed postpartum with lower quality of life. NGT women with depressive symptoms have higher rates of labor inductions and lower quality of life postpartum compared to nondepressed NGT women.

Automated summary

Depressive symptoms impact pregnancy outcomes and postpartum quality of life in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and normal glucose tolerance. Women with antenatal symptoms of depression are more likely to develop GDM, and those with depressive symptoms have lower quality of life postpartum. Additionally, NGT women with depressive symptoms have higher rates of labor inductions and lower quality of life postpartum compared to nondepressed NGT women.