Gestational diabetes & diabetes in pregnancy
Oral Corticosteroid Use During Pregnancy and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes
Main finding · GDM (pooled analysis)Result — go to the resultWeighted relative risk 1.01 95% CI 0.99–1.03Authors' conclusion
In this cohort study, OCS exposure during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes, except for a modest increase in risk among women exposed to OCSs between 4 and 6 weeks' gestation, supporting the use of OCSs when clinically indicated.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnancies resulting in live births in Korea, 2010–2021of 3,848,270 pregnancies
- Participants
- 1,325,940 pregnancies
- Exposure
- OCS exposure vs no OCS exposure during pregnancy
- Exposedn = 79,710
- Outcome
- GDM assessed from 20 weeks plus 1 day of gestation until delivery (validated algorithm)
Methodological detailssequential landmark analysis, propensity score-based overlap weighting, bootstrapping with 200 replications, Data analyzed June 26, 2024, to September 19, 2025
- Sequential landmark analysis
- Propensity score-based overlap weighting
- Bootstrapping with 200 replications
- Data analyzed June 26, 2024, to September 19, 2025
Main finding
GDM (pooled analysis)
Weighted relative risk
1.01
95% CI 0.99–1.03
By group
Exposedvs Unexposed
weighted RR 1.01 (95% CI 0.99–1.03)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Weighted RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| GDM by 3-week exposure interval · 4 to 6 weeks' gestationExposure between 4 and 6 weeks' gestation | 1.10 (1.03–1.17) | |
| 0.512Weighted relative risk (log scale) |
GDM by 3-week exposure interval · 4 to 6 weeks' gestation
- OCS exposure not associated with increased GDM risk in most intervals
Subgroups (maternal age, indication, duration of action, dosage, timing, duration of exposure)
- No significant effect modification
Original publication
Oral Corticosteroid Use During Pregnancy and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes. JAMA Intern Med. Published 1 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →