UCLA

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the risk of preterm labor and hypertensive disorders in adolescent pregnancies with and without diabetes. METHODS: We evaluated 1,843,139 adolescents (≤20 years old) with labor and delivery admissions in the national Kids Inpatient Database (KID) in years 2006, 2009, 2012, 2016, and 2019. International classification of disease codes was used to identify diabetes and medical factors affecting pregnancy. Weighted logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between diabetes and complications. RESULTS: Among admissions, 0.2% had type 1 diabetes (T1D), 0.2% had type 2 diabetes (T2D), and 0.7% had gestational diabetes (GDM); 10.1% of admissions were complicated by hypertensive disorders and 5.8% by preterm labor. Compared to adolescents without diabetes, those with diabetes had a higher prevalence of hypertensive disorders (T1D: 35.4%, T2D: 37.8%, GDM: 24.9%, None: 9.9%; p <0:001) and preterm labor (T1D: 21.5%, T2D: 16.8%, GDM: 6.8%, none: 5.7%; p <0:001). In adjusted models, odds of hypertensive disorders were higher in later study years (2019 vs. 2006 OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.77-1.94), among those with T1D (OR 4.32, 95% CI 3.94-4.74), with T2D (OR 4.18, 95% CI 3.79-4.61), and with GDM (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.89-2.10). Adjusted odds of preterm labor were higher among those with T1D (OR 4.53, 95% CI 4.09-5.02), with T2D (OR 3.35, 95% CI 2.96-3.78), and with GDM (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08-1.28); disparities were seen by race/ethnicity, insurance, and income. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes, which is increasing among adolescents, is a significant risk factor for preterm labor and hypertensive disorders. Though the absolute number of adolescent pregnancies is decreasing, rates of hypertensive disorders have increased. Appropriate interventions are needed to ensure healthy outcomes for adolescents who are pregnant.