Indicator 4.2 Incidence of gestational diabetes
Overview
In 2017–18, around 43,100 (14%) mothers aged 15–49 who gave birth in hospital were diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Trends
The age-standardised incidence rate for gestational diabetes more than tripled from 5.2% in 2000–01 to 16% in 2017–18, with steep increases recorded from 2012–13 (Figure 4.2.1). Caution should be taken when comparing rates over time however, as a number of factors are likely to have affected the incidence of gestational diabetes in Australia in recent years. These include the introduction of new diagnostic guidelines and increasing risk factors in the population (see trends discussion in Incidence of gestational diabetes in Australia for more information).
Age
In 2017–18, rates increased with age, peaking in the 45–49 age group at 31% (Figure 4.2.1).
Population groups
In 2017–18, the incidence of gestational diabetes increased with the level of socioeconomic disadvantage. Mothers aged 15–49 who gave birth and were living in the lowest socioeconomic areas were 1.6 times as likely to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes as mothers living in the highest socioeconomic areas (21% and 13%, respectively) (Figure 4.2.2).
State and territory
There was some variation in the incidence of gestational diabetes between states and territories in 2017–18 with the highest rate in the Australian Capital Territory (20%) and the lowest rate in Western Australia (12%) (Figure 4.2.2).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
In 2017–18, over 1,700 (13%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth, were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. After adjusting for differences in the age structure of the populations, the incidence rate among Indigenous mothers was similar to the rate for non-Indigenous mothers (17% and 16%, respectively) (Figure 4.2.2).
About the data
The number of hospitalisations with any diagnosis of gestational diabetes, and a diagnosis relating to a birth event code, was used to calculate the incidence of gestational diabetes in the population. A single birth event code is entered for each woman, regardless of the number of times she is hospitalised during the same pregnancy or the number of babies born.
Explore the data
4.2: Incidence of gestational diabetes by selected population groups, 2000–01 to 2017–18
Trends figure 4.2.1 shows the incidence of gestational diabetes among females aged 15–49 in Australia from 2000–01 to 2017–18. Rates remained steady (between 5% and 6%) until 2012–13. The rate more than tripled between 2011–12 and 2017–18 to around 16%.
Population group figure 4.2.2 shows the incidence of gestational diabetes in 2017–18 by selected population groups. The incidence of gestational diabetes increased with age and was 4.5 times higher among females aged 45–49 (31%) as those aged 15–19 (7%). The incidence of gestational diabetes increased with the level of socioeconomic disadvantage and was 1.6 times higher among females living in the lowest compared with the highest socioeconomic areas (21% and 13%, respectively). Incidence varied by state and territory from 12% in Western Australia to 20% in the Australian Capital Territory. The incidence of gestational diabetes in 2017–18 was similar by Indigenous status and remoteness area.
| Definition | Data source | |
| Numerator | Number of hospital separations with birth outcome (ICD-10-AM code: Z37) and a co-existing diagnosis of gestational diabetes (ICD-10-AM code: O24.4). | AIHW NHMD |
| Denominator | Number of hospital separations with birth outcome (ICD-10-AM code: Z37). | AIHW NHMD |