Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus among Indigenous women and comparison with non-Indigenous Australian women: 1990-2009

Background: Evidence on long-term trends in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence in Australia is lacking. Aims: To assess and compare trends in GDM prevalence among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian women. Materials and Methods: Analysis of crude and age-adjusted GDM prevalence over time by Indigenous status and age, using routinely collected midwives data from Australian states and territories on mothers giving birth from 1990 to 2009. Results: Despite considerable data variation, particularly in 1990?1999, and likely underestimation of GDM prevalence, crude and age-adjusted GDM prevalences were higher in Indigenous than non-Indigenous women at all time-points (4.7 vs 3.1 in 1990?1999; 5.1 vs 4.5 in 2000?2009, P <0.0001). Data variability precluded quantitative assessment of trends and changes in prevalence ratios before 2000. From 2000 to 2009, GDM prevalence increased significantly among Indigenous women by a mean 2.6 annually (Ptrend