Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain

Background Fasting during Ramadan is widely practiced, with nearly a quarter of the world's population identifying as Muslim. However, it remains unclear whether Ramadan-associated practices influence gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the pos...

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Autores: Carrasco, M, Vlacho, B, Franch-Nadal, J, Real, J, Monroy, G, Soldevila, B, Mauricio, D, Hernández, M
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
Repositorio:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:r-fsjd______::87c882adcac1f94632273be1509d59aa
Acceso en línea:https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=30260
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ramadan
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
Fasting
Pregnancy
Glucose metabolism
Diagnostic testing
SIDIAP database
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spelling Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, SpainCarrasco, MVlacho, BFranch-Nadal, JReal, JMonroy, GSoldevila, BMauricio, DHernández, MRamadanGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)FastingPregnancyGlucose metabolismDiagnostic testingSIDIAP databaseBackground Fasting during Ramadan is widely practiced, with nearly a quarter of the world's population identifying as Muslim. However, it remains unclear whether Ramadan-associated practices influence gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible association between the practice of Ramadan and the outcome of diagnostic tests for GDM. Methods We performed a retrospective study using the SIDIAP primary care database in Catalonia, Spain, covering 2010-2019. We included 35,054 pregnancy episodes screened for GDM in women aged 18-50 years without prior diabetes from Muslim-majority countries (MMC). Women from the MMC group were matched by calendar age (1:1) with women from non-Muslim-majority countries (control group). GDM incidence and plasma glucose values from diagnostic testing were compared between Ramadan and non-Ramadan periods in both groups. General linear and mixed models were applied to assess whether the Ramadan period was associated with increased GDM diagnosis and glucose values. Results In the control group, GDM incidence was similar during Ramadan and non-Ramadan periods (5.57% vs. 5.52%; p = 0.930). In contrast, the MMC group showed a significantly higher GDM rate during Ramadan (12.8% vs. 8.84%; p < 0.001). The adjusted regression model, for maternal age, BMI, number of pregnancies, blood pressure, and socioeconomic status, confirmed that the RAM period was associated with a higher risk of GDM in women from Muslim countries (MMC group) than those in the control group (OR for interaction term = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26-1.81). Conclusions Among women from Muslim-majority countries, the rate of GDM diagnosis was higher during Ramadan. This finding may reflect a potential influence of fasting or other Ramadan-related factors on glucose testing and diagnostic practices. Clinicians should consider the possible impact of Ramadan timing when scheduling GDM screening. Further studies are warranted to confirm these observations and explore underlying mechanisms.BMC2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=30260BMC MedicineISSN: 17417015reponame:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déuinstname:Fundació Sant Joan de DéuInglésinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:r-fsjd______::87c882adcac1f94632273be1509d59aa2026-05-27T12:37:41Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
title Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
spellingShingle Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
Carrasco, M
Ramadan
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
Fasting
Pregnancy
Glucose metabolism
Diagnostic testing
SIDIAP database
title_short Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
title_full Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
title_fullStr Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
title_full_unstemmed Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
title_sort Overdiagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus during Ramadan: a retrospective population-based study in Catalonia, Spain
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Carrasco, M
Vlacho, B
Franch-Nadal, J
Real, J
Monroy, G
Soldevila, B
Mauricio, D
Hernández, M
author Carrasco, M
author_facet Carrasco, M
Vlacho, B
Franch-Nadal, J
Real, J
Monroy, G
Soldevila, B
Mauricio, D
Hernández, M
author_role author
author2 Vlacho, B
Franch-Nadal, J
Real, J
Monroy, G
Soldevila, B
Mauricio, D
Hernández, M
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Ramadan
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
Fasting
Pregnancy
Glucose metabolism
Diagnostic testing
SIDIAP database
topic Ramadan
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
Fasting
Pregnancy
Glucose metabolism
Diagnostic testing
SIDIAP database
description Background Fasting during Ramadan is widely practiced, with nearly a quarter of the world's population identifying as Muslim. However, it remains unclear whether Ramadan-associated practices influence gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible association between the practice of Ramadan and the outcome of diagnostic tests for GDM. Methods We performed a retrospective study using the SIDIAP primary care database in Catalonia, Spain, covering 2010-2019. We included 35,054 pregnancy episodes screened for GDM in women aged 18-50 years without prior diabetes from Muslim-majority countries (MMC). Women from the MMC group were matched by calendar age (1:1) with women from non-Muslim-majority countries (control group). GDM incidence and plasma glucose values from diagnostic testing were compared between Ramadan and non-Ramadan periods in both groups. General linear and mixed models were applied to assess whether the Ramadan period was associated with increased GDM diagnosis and glucose values. Results In the control group, GDM incidence was similar during Ramadan and non-Ramadan periods (5.57% vs. 5.52%; p = 0.930). In contrast, the MMC group showed a significantly higher GDM rate during Ramadan (12.8% vs. 8.84%; p < 0.001). The adjusted regression model, for maternal age, BMI, number of pregnancies, blood pressure, and socioeconomic status, confirmed that the RAM period was associated with a higher risk of GDM in women from Muslim countries (MMC group) than those in the control group (OR for interaction term = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26-1.81). Conclusions Among women from Muslim-majority countries, the rate of GDM diagnosis was higher during Ramadan. This finding may reflect a potential influence of fasting or other Ramadan-related factors on glucose testing and diagnostic practices. Clinicians should consider the possible impact of Ramadan timing when scheduling GDM screening. Further studies are warranted to confirm these observations and explore underlying mechanisms.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=30260
url https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=30260
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv BMC
publisher.none.fl_str_mv BMC
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv BMC Medicine
ISSN: 17417015
reponame:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
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