The Finnish Gestational Diabetes Study (FinnGeDi)
Project information
Project duration
-
Funded by
Multiple sources
Project funder
Project coordinator
University of Oulu
Unit and faculty
Contact information
Project leader
- Marja Vääräsmäki
Contact person
Other persons
- Professor of Lifecourse Medicine
- Sanna Mustaniemi
Project description
The clinical-genetic arm includes 1146 pregnant women with gestational diabetes and 1066 controls, who gave birth in one of seven secondary or tertiary level hospitals in Finland (Oulu, Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Pori, Kajaani, Seinäjoki, and Lappeenranta) in 2009-2012, together with their children and the children’s fathers.
DNA samples were collected from all participants (mothers, fathers and children). Additionally, cord blood samples were collected from children. Parents fulfilled a questionnaire including family history, health and lifestyle-related data. Maternal and child health data were collected from hospital and welfare records. Data are supplemented through biobanks and national registers including Medical Birth Register and Care Register of Health Care maintained by THL, Medication Reimbursement Register maintained by National Social Insurance Institution and Census data obtained from Statistics Finland.
A clinical follow-up study has been initiated after 10-15 years of index pregnancy with the main objective of assessing the consequences of gestational diabetes on cardiovascular and metabolic health of the mothers, with a special focus on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). 213 women with gestational diabetes in the index pregnancy (2009-2012) and 204 women without history of gestational diabetes in the index pregnancy currently residing in Oulu region participate in the study. Clinical and anthropometric measurements, assessment of lifestyle, physical fitness and behavioral factors, oral examination, imaging studies and biochemical analyses are carried out.
The register arm includes women with singleton pregnancies who gave birth in Finland in 2009 according to Medical Birth Register and their families (children, fathers, children’s grandparents). Data is compiled by national registers e.g. Care Register of Health Care maintained by THL, Medication Reimbursement Register maintained by National Social Insurance Institution and Census data obtained from Statistics Finland.