OBJECTIVE:

To compare the prevalence and perinatal outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus in adolescent women using three international diagnostics criteria.

METHODS:

An observational retrospective cohort study, 493 adolescents were included, an oral glucose tolerance test 75g-2 h was performed, between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, the prevalence and adverse perinatal outcomes was analyzed, with criteria of Fifth International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus was: 0.2%, 6.3% and 1.8%, with the criteria of Fifth International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, respectively. The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus was significantly higher with criteria of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups; there were no significant differences among adverse perinatal outcomes when using any of the three criteria.

CONCLUSION:

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus using the criteria of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups is 3 times higher than National Institute for Health and Care Excellence criteria and 30 times higher than the Fifth International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus criteria. There was no increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in adolescents with gestational diabetes mellitus; however, adolescents may be at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus long term.