Maternal height as a predictor of glucose intolerance in the postpartum and its relationship with maternal pre-gestational weight

Abstract

Purpose: Short stature predicts higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We studied the association between height and glucose intolerance in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and whether this association differed according to body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Retrospective study of the Portuguese GDM registry.

Exclusion criteria: missing data on postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or BMI.

Endpoint: postpartum glucose intolerance (diabetes mellitus or prediabetes on the 6-8 weeks postpartum OGTT). Women were divided by mean height and compared. A multivariate logistic regression was used, and the analysis was stratified by BMI (cut-off: 30 kg/m²) and interaction was tested.

Results: We included 7402 women; mean height was 161.9 ± 6.2 cm. Taller women had lower BMI and lower rates of glucose intolerance (6.8 vs. 8.8%, p = 0.002). Women with BMI < 30 kg/m² were taller than those with obesity. Height associated with glucose intolerance. The multivariate adjusted OR of glucose intolerance was 0.98 (95% CI 0.96-0.99), p = 0.001, per 1 cm increase in height. This association was only observed in women with BMI < 30 kg/m²: OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.99), < 0.001. There was no such association in women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²: OR 0.99 (95% CI 0.97-1.02), p = 0.65. P for interaction between BMI and height was 0.09.

Conclusions: In non-obese pre-gestational women, height is inversely associated with postpartum glucose intolerance. Per 1 cm increase in height, women present a 3% decrease in the risk of developing diabetes mellitus or prediabetes.

Keywords: Body mass index; Gestational diabetes; Height; Prediabetes; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.