Association between Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Postpartum Depression among Women in Eastern India: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The study was planned to evaluate the association between Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Postpartum Depression (PPD) in a rural population of Odisha, Eastern India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pregnant women in the first trimester were recruited and followed up till six weeks of postpartum. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus was assessed with 75 grams glucose challenge test and PPD was assessed at six weeks after delivery with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Statistical difference between variables was assessed using Chi-square test, Fischer’s exact test, and unpaired T-test. Covariates were adjusted using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to estimate the association between GDM and PPD. RESULTS: Out of 436 pregnant women recruited, 347 (89.6%) remained in the study. Prevalence of GDM was 13.9% (95% CI: 10.7–17.3) and PPD was 9.8% (95% CI: 6.6–12.9). Incidence of PPD in the GDM group was 14.58% (95% CI: 4.2–24.9) and in women without GDM was 9.06% (95% CI: 5.76–12.3). However, the association was not significant on multivariate logistic regression (Risk Ratio (RR) = 1.56, 95% C.I: 0.61–6.16; P-value = 0.35). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that women with GDM were at higher risk of developing PPD suggesting that an “at risk” approach should be implemented for screening.