History of adolescent birth and diabetes in adulthood: a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of American women.

In the USA, 12-14% have type 2 diabetes mellitus and the incidence is rising. Adolescent birth has been shown to be associated with significant gestational weight gain and obesity in adulthood. We sought to evaluate the association between the history of adolescent birth and diabetes in adulthood. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, examining 2-year cycles from 2005 to 2014. In a population of adult women who had experienced at least one live birth and who were not currently pregnant, we examined the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus by the history of adolescent birth (live birth prior to 20 years of age). Sample characteristics were compared using survey-weighted chi-square tests. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between diabetes mellitus and adolescent birth history, with progressive adjustments for birth cohort, race/ethnicity, education level, and body mass index (BMI). In a survey sample of 6507 individuals, we found that 38% of the women had experienced adolescent birth. Significant differences were found between those who had experienced adolescent birth and those who had not by birth cohort, race/ethnicity, federal poverty level, education attainment, parity, and BMI ( < .001 for all). The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was higher in women with a history of adolescent birth in adulthood than in women without a history of adolescent birth (17.2 versus 12.1%,  < .001; BMI-adjusted odds ratio = 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.58,  = .03). American women with a history of adolescent birth are at a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adulthood. Greater attention must be paid to preventing metabolic disease in women who experience early parity.