Gestational diabetes may be more likely with antipsychotic use

Women who take antipsychotic medication during pregnancy may be at an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes, report researchers.

Such individuals should be closely monitored for gestational diabetes and deviating fetal growth, advise Robert Bodén (Uppsala University, Sweden) and colleagues.

According to information recorded in three Swedish national health registers, seven (4.1%) of 169 women prescribed olanzapine and/or clozapine during pregnancy, and 15 (4.4%) of 338 prescribed any other antipsychotic developed gestational diabetes, compared with only 5970 (1.7%) of 357,696 women who were not prescribed antipsychotics.

"Olanzapine and clozapine have been associated with substantial weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and increased insulin resistance," say the authors, who explain that there is concern that these drugs may have anabolic fetal growth effects and increase the risk for gestational diabetes.

As reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry, univariate analysis showed that compared with nonuse, antipsychotic use was associated with more than twice the risk for gestational diabetes, at an odds ratio (OR) of 2.44 for those who took olanzapine and/or clozapine, and an OR of 2.53 for those on any other antipsychotic.

After adjustment for birth order and maternal age, country of birth, cohabitation, smoking, and height, the ORs remained of similar magnitude, at 1.94 for those on olanzapine and/or clozapine and 1.77 for those on any other antipsychotic, although the former was no longer significant.

After adding early pregnancy body mass index to the model, both ORs were slightly attenuated and both were no longer significant.

"Our hypothesis of a pharmacological effect… was supported by the increased risk of gestational diabetes being almost unaffected after adjustment for maternal factors," writes the team.

The researchers also found that infants exposed to antipsychotics were more than twice as likely to be small for gestational age, regardless of medication group, than unexposed infants. However after adjustment for maternal factors, this risk estimate was no longer significant, suggesting it was probably an effect of confounding factors such as smoking, says the team.

Conversely, the authors did find that exposure to olanzapine and/or clozapine increased the risk for giving birth to a child with macrocephaly - a head circumference that is large for gestational age.

They describe this finding as "surprising," and say this observation deserves to be investigated further.

Licensed from medwireNews with permission from Springer Healthcare Ltd. ©Springer Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved. Neither of these parties endorse or recommend any commercial products, services, or equipment.

Sally Robertson

Written by

Sally Robertson

Sally first developed an interest in medical communications when she took on the role of Journal Development Editor for BioMed Central (BMC), after having graduated with a degree in biomedical science from Greenwich University.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Robertson, Sally. (2018, August 23). Gestational diabetes may be more likely with antipsychotic use. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 06, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20120710/Gestational-diabetes-may-be-more-likely-with-antipsychotic-use.aspx.

  • MLA

    Robertson, Sally. "Gestational diabetes may be more likely with antipsychotic use". News-Medical. 06 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20120710/Gestational-diabetes-may-be-more-likely-with-antipsychotic-use.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Robertson, Sally. "Gestational diabetes may be more likely with antipsychotic use". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20120710/Gestational-diabetes-may-be-more-likely-with-antipsychotic-use.aspx. (accessed October 06, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Robertson, Sally. 2018. Gestational diabetes may be more likely with antipsychotic use. News-Medical, viewed 06 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20120710/Gestational-diabetes-may-be-more-likely-with-antipsychotic-use.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Hypothalamic ECM remodeling drives insulin resistance, contributing to obesity and diabetes