Resource-poor neighborhood residence linked to GDM risk

Resource-poor neighborhood residence linked to GDM risk | Image Credit: © Mulderphoto - © Mulderphoto - stock.adobe.com.

The odds of diabetes incidence during pregnancy are increased among women residing in resource-poor neighborhoods, according to a recent study published in Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.¹

A 20% increase in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) odds was highlighted among this population compared to mothers living in neighborhoods with adequate resources, highlighting additional impacts of neighborhood conditions on pregnancy outcomes. According to investigators, this indicates a need to identify communities that may benefit from preventative measures.¹

“Where you live can influence your health. It can impact stress, access to quality food, the ability to interact with the outdoors and exercise – all factors that can affect health,” said Melissa Furlong, PhD, senior author and assistant professor at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.¹

Assessing neighborhood depravation and GDM

The population-based study was conducted to determine the impact of neighborhood depravation on GDM risk.² Data about singleton live births was obtained from birth certificates included in the AzPEARS study.

A neighborhood depravation index (NDI) score was developed by linking America Community Survey data to US Census tracts from 2010. The score was based on 8 socioeconomic indicators, and the link between NDI and GDM risk was assessed using risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).²

Covariates included maternal age, race and ethnicity, maternal education, rurality, parity, and birth year. An overall state-wide incidence of 7.8% was reported for GDM, ranging from 4% to 12%.²

Link between NDI and GDM

Native American, Asian, and Hispanic patients reported the highest rates of GDM, at 16.6%, 13.7%, and 8.3%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the RR for GDM among mothers residing in neighborhoods with the highest quartile of NDI vs the lowest quartile was 1.21 with a 95% CI of 1.18, 1.26, highlighting an increase in risk from deprivation.²

These results indicated NDI may contribute to GDM risk. Investigators concluded that GDM odds may be reduced by identifying high-risk neighborhoods to implement place-based interventions.²

GDM has been associated with significant maternal and child health risks, including stroke.³ A study published on June 24, 2025,highlighted a 30-year incidence stroke rate of 1.3% in women with gestational diabetes, alongside a total cumulative incidence rate of 1.9%. In comparison, overall patient rates were 0.9% and 1.6%, respectively.

Need for further GDM research

While prior research has linked neighborhood conditions to reduced control of diabetes, this is one of the first studies to determine how socioeconomic factors influence GDM development in pregnant women residing in poor neighborhoods.¹

Investigators also highlighted a need to increase understanding of factors contributing to GDM incidence in Native American mothers and to address this disparity, as this population presented with an over 2-fold increased rate vs the general population. Further research about the role of neighborhoods in maternal health is also needed.¹

“This is only a characterization of people who live in these areas who have a higher risk for diabetes,” said Furlong. “We’d like to know many more details about the neighborhoods themselves and how they can impact the health of people who live there.” ¹

References

1. Resource-poor neighborhood conditions may increase gestational diabetes risk. University of Arizona Health Sciences. August 4, 2025. Accessed August 12, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1093575.
2. Parra KL, Farland LV, Harris RB, Toro M, Furlong M. Neighbourhood deprivation and gestational diabetes mellitus in Arizona from the AzPEARS study. Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 2024. doi:10.1111/ppe.13146
3. Krewson C. Pregnancy complications linked to long-term stroke risk. Contemporary OB/GYN. July 8, 2025. Accessed August 12, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/pregnancy-complications-linked-to-long-term-stroke-risk.