PREVALENCE OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN THE WOMEN ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has transformed into a pressing public health concern across NorthernIndia due to accelerating shifts in lifestyle, rising pre-pregnancy adiposity, and distinct ethnic susceptibilities. This studyaims to estimate the precise point prevalence and delineate the socio-demographic risk factors associated with GDM amongpregnant women. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study executed at a tertiary care teaching hospital inVaranasi, Uttar Pradesh. Total 500 pregnant females were screened between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Universalscreening technique was deployed via a single-step 75-gram Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) in accordance withDiabetes in Pregnancy Study Group in India (DIPSI) guidelines. Multi-variable logistic regression was conducted todetermine independent risk factors to GDM. The p value < 0.05 was considered statistical significance. Results: The overallpoint prevalence of GDM within this North Indian state cohort was established at 17.4% (87 GDM cases). Bivariate andmultivariate regression models revealed that advanced maternal age (≥30 years, AOR = 2.16, p < 0.001), elevated prepregnancyBody Mass Index (≥25 Kg/m2, AOR = 2.83, p < 0.001), and a primary family history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(AOR = 1.94, p < 0.01) were independently linked with a significantly increased risk of developing GDM. Notably, 22.7%of the diagnosed GDM subgroup lacked traditional risk factors. From an operative standpoint, GDM was strongly linked toan increased rate of Cesarean delivery (58.6% vs. 41.4%, p < 0.001), driven by fetal macrosomia and labor arrest patterns.Conclusion: GDM presents serious metabolic and surgical delivery hurdles, thus mandating the proper screening protocolsfor timely intervention to prevent feto-maternal complications.