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Maternal, Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P10-068-24) The Association Between Pregnancy During the COVID Pandemic and Gestational Diabetes Among Low Income Women

Sunday, June 30, 2024
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 563
Disclosure(s):
Elizabeth S. Metallinos-Katsaras, PhD RD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: To assess change in gestational diabetes incidence among low income nutritionally at risk pregnant/post-partum (PP) women between the COVID pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

Methods: Massachusetts Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) participants during pregnancy and PP periods or solely PP during 2018-2021 were selected from state WIC data. CDC criteria for outliers or BIVs were applied. Inclusion criteria: parity of 0, gestational age between 28-44 weeks, and complete data on pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes status, maternal education, age, and race/Hispanic ethnicity (n=17,356). Gestational diabetes was self-reported by the participant at the PP WIC visit. Two 21-month time periods were defined based on infant birth dates, one during Pre-COVID (June 2018 to Feb 2020, n=9,193) and one during the COVID Pandemic (April 2020 to Dec. 2021, n=8,153). Multivariable logistic regression was conducted with gestational diabetes as the outcome and time period as the exposure. Covariates: maternal education and age, and pre-pregnancy BMI.

Results: 53.0% of the sample gave birth pre-COVID and 47% gave birth during the COVID pandemic. Gestational diabetes was reported by 5.2% of women pre-COVD and 6.4% of women during COVID. After controlling for maternal age, education and pre-pregnancy BMI, women who were pregnant at some point during the COVID pandemic, had an 18% greater odds of developing gestational diabetes compared to those who were pregnant pre-COVID (AOR=1.18, 95% CI=1.03-1.34). Gestational weight gain was not a significant predictor of gestational diabetes in the model and its inclusion did not substantively change these findings.

Conclusions: Among low income women at nutritional risk, pregnancy during the COVID time period was associated with higher gestational diabetes incidence. Underlying contributors to this association are likely multi-factorial and may include less physical activity, dietary changes, and stress. Future research should examine underlying contributors to this association in this population.

Funding Sources: No external funding.