Association between ABO Blood Types and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Shuang Hua XIE; Shuang Ying LI; Shao Fei SU; En Jie ZHANG; Shen GAO; Yue ZHANG; Jian Hui LIU; Min Hui HU; Rui Xia LIU; Wen Tao YUE; Cheng Hong YIN

Return

Association between ABO Blood Types and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Author: Shuang Hua XIE ¹ ; Shuang Ying LI ¹ ; Shao Fei SU ¹ ; En Jie ZHANG ¹ ; Shen GAO ¹ ; Yue ZHANG ² ; Jian Hui LIU ¹ ; Min Hui HU ¹ ; Rui Xia LIU ¹ ; Wen Tao YUE ² ; Cheng Hong YIN ³
Author Information

1. Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China.
2. Department of Research Management, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China.
3. Office of Hospital Administration, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: ABO blood type phenotype; Cohort study; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Risk factors
MeSH: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Diabetes, Gestational/etiology*; ABO Blood-Group System; Adult; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Young Adult
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(6):678-692
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To investigate the association between ABO blood types and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk.
METHODS:A prospective birth cohort study was conducted. ABO blood types were determined using the slide method. GDM diagnosis was based on a 75-g, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) according to the criteria of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups. Logistic regression was applied to calculate the odds ratios ( ORs) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) between ABO blood types and GDM risk.
RESULTS:A total of 30,740 pregnant women with a mean age of 31.81 years were enrolled in this study. The ABO blood types distribution was: type O (30.99%), type A (26.58%), type B (32.20%), and type AB (10.23%). GDM was identified in 14.44% of participants. Using blood type O as a reference, GDM risk was not significantly higher for types A ( OR = 1.05) or B ( OR = 1.04). However, women with type AB had a 19% increased risk of GDM ( OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.05-1.34; P < 0.05), even after adjusting for various factors. This increased risk for type AB was consistent across subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
CONCLUSION:The ABO blood types may influence GDM risk, with type AB associated with a higher risk. Incorporating it-either as a single risk factor or in combination with other known factors-could help identify individuals at risk for GDM before or during early pregnancy.