Zeynep Kamil Med J. 2025; 56(4): 194-200 | DOI: 10.14744/zkmj.2025.43179

Physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ) scores during pregnancy in a Turkish population with and without gestational diabetes mellitus: A prospective cohort study

Nazan Usal Tarhan¹, Gültekin Adanaþ Aydýn², Handan Ankaralý³, Habibe Ayvacý Taþan^1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences, Turkey. Istanbul Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Diseases Health Training and Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
³Department of Biostatistics, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: The risk of gestational diabetes mellitus increases in women with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Assessing quantitative physical activity in pregnant women with diabetes can help us better understand disease management. We report the characteristics of pregnant women who were screened and diagnosed with gestational diabetes, as well as the results of the Turkish version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire.
METHODS: A total of 292 pregnant women who completed the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and underwent gestational diabetes screening were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, total and subscale scores of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were compared between women with positive and negative gestational diabetes mellitus screening and diagnostic test results.
RESULTS: Total activity and subscale scores of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were similar between groups with positive and negative gestational diabetes mellitus screening and diagnostic test results. Age, weight, and body mass index differed significantly between groups (p=0.001, p=0.006, and p=0.001, respectively). Logistic multivariate binary analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between total activity and subscale scores.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Physical activity scores obtained from the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire, reflecting a 3-month period, were similar in cases with positive and negative gestational diabetes mellitus screening and diagnostic test results. Pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in more physical activity, as the frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus increases with age, body weight, body mass index, and number of pregnancies.

Keywords: Exercise, gestational diabetes mellitus, glucose tolerance test, obesity, physical activity questionnaire.

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