A recent study has revealed that women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy are not at an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. This significant finding will be presented at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid from 9-13 September 2024.
Gestational Diabetes and its Growing Prevalence
Gestational diabetes, a condition that affects around 14% of pregnant women globally, is becoming more prevalent. It is more common in women who are obese, have a family history of diabetes, or are older. Additionally, race and ethnicity can influence the risk. Although gestational diabetes typically resolves after childbirth, it is associated with a higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and other health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and post-natal depression.
Study Highlights and Methodology
Led by Maria Hornstrup Christensen from the Steno Diabetes Center Odense at Odense University Hospital in Denmark, the study analyzed data from nearly three-quarters of a million women to assess the relationship between gestational diabetes and breast cancer risk. Using national registers, the researchers included data from 708,121 women who gave birth in Denmark between 1997 and 2018, excluding those with pre-existing diabetes or breast cancer.
Out of the total, 24,140 women (3.4%) were diagnosed with gestational diabetes in one or more pregnancies. The median age at pregnancy was 28 years for both groups (those with and without gestational diabetes). The women were followed for a median of 11.9 years, during which 7,609 were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Key Findings
The analysis showed that women with gestational diabetes were not more likely to develop breast cancer compared to those without gestational diabetes. This finding was consistent for overall breast cancer, premenopausal breast cancer, and postmenopausal breast cancer. The results held true even after accounting for factors such as age, parity, ethnicity, income, occupation, education, and pre-existing health conditions like high blood pressure. Additional analyses considering pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking during pregnancy, and obstetric complications (e.g., pre-eclampsia) also did not find an association between gestational diabetes and breast cancer.
Implications and Reassurance
Dr. Christensen emphasized that this study, one of the largest of its kind, offers reassurance to women who have had gestational diabetes. “It will be reassuring for women who have had gestational diabetes to know that they are not at a higher risk of developing breast cancer,” she stated. However, she also highlighted the need for continued vigilance regarding other health risks, such as type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Christensen, who also works as a midwife specializing in diabetes care, advised that all women should be “breast aware” and regularly check their breasts for changes, regardless of their gestational diabetes status.
Study Limitations
It is important to note that the study primarily involved Caucasian women living in Denmark, a country with free healthcare and breast cancer screening services. Therefore, the findings may not necessarily apply to other populations or healthcare systems.
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