Diabetic Retinopathy in Parous Women With and Without Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study
Main finding · DR in women who developed diabetesResult — go to the resultAdjusted hazard ratio 3.0 95% CI 2.6–3.6Authors' conclusion
This large population-based study identified GDM as a significant risk factor for DR in parous women with diabetes, a risk that increased with increasing GDM severity and postpregnancy hypertension development. On the basis of this study, planning of DR screening strategies should include awareness of GDM history.
Study context
- Population
- All women giving birth in Denmark in 1997–2018; Diabetic retinopathy (DR) analysed in women who subsequently developed diabetes (18,556)18,556 developed diabetes
- Participants
- 708,250 women
- Exposure
- Previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) vs no previous GDM
- Outcome
- DR (ICD-10 codes)
- Follow-up
- Median 12 years
Methodological detailsCox regression
- Cox regression
Main finding
DR in women who developed diabetes
Adjusted hazard ratio
3.0
95% CI 2.6–3.6
Previous GDMvs No previous GDM
aHR 3.0 (95% CI 2.6–3.6)
As reported in the abstract
- DR occurred in women with subsequent diabetes
- 655
- GDM prevalence
- 3.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aHR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| DR by GDM severity (insulin treatment as proxy), in women who developed diabetesPrevious GDM with insulin treatmentvs Without previous GDM | 5.6 (4.5–6.9) | |
| DR by GDM severity (insulin treatment as proxy), in women who developed diabetesPrevious GDM without insulin treatmentvs Without previous GDM | 2.4 (2.0–2.9) | |
| 0.10.31310Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
DR in women with subsequent hypertension
| aHR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| GDM exposure2.7-fold higher DR risk with GDM exposure | 2.7 (2.1–3.5) | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
DR by GDM severity (insulin treatment as proxy), in women who developed diabetes
- Risk increased with increasing GDM severity
Original publication
Diabetic Retinopathy in Parous Women With and Without Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study. Diabetes Care. Published 2 April 2026. doi:10.
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