Dataset Information

Maternal height, gestational diabetes mellitus and pregnancy complications.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To explore the glucose-overload hypothesis of artefactual gestational diabetes (GDM) diagnosis in shorter women during oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), by investigating associations between height and maternal glycemia; and GDM and pregnancy complications in height-groups.

Methods

Women from GUSTO (n = 1100, 2009-2010) and NUH (n = 4068, 2017-2018) cohorts underwent a mid-gestation two and three time-point 75 g 2-hour OGTT, respectively. GDM-related complications (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm delivery, emergency cesarean section, neonatal intensive care unit admission, macrosomia, birthweight) were compared within shorter and taller groups, dichotomized by ethnic-specific median height.

Results

Using WHO-1999 criteria, 18.8% (GUSTO) to 22.9% (NUH) of women were diagnosed with GDM-1999; and by WHO-2013 criteria, 21.9% (NUH) had GDM-2013. Each 5-cm height increment was inversely associated with GDM-1999 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR, 95% CI] = 0.81 [0.76-0.87], 2-h glycemia (adjusted β [aβ, 95% CI] = -0.171 mmol/L [-0.208, -0.135]) and 1-h glycemia (aβ = -0.160 mmol/L [-0.207, -0.112]). The inverse association between height and 2-h glycemia was most marked in "Other" ethnicities (Eurasians/Caucasians/mixed/other Asians) and Indians, followed by Chinese, then Malays. Compared with non-GDM, GDM-1999 was associated with preterm delivery (aOR = 1.76 [1.19-2.61]) and higher birthweight (aβ = 57.16 g [20.95, 93.38]) only among taller but not shorter women.

Conclusions

Only taller women had an increased odds of GDM-related pregnancy complications. An artefactual GDM diagnosis due to glucose-overload among shorter women is plausible.

SUBMITTER: Chu AHY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7611603 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:OBJECTIVES: To assess the maternal and fetal complications of pregnancy in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with non-diabetic patients who delivered in the hospital during the study period. METHODS: The outcome of pregnancy in 220 Saudi patients with GDM identified from the delivery register/hospital database and matched for age, parity and body mass index with 220 non-diabetic controls were studied retrospectively from their case files. Patients with multiple pregnancies and abnormal presentation of the fetus were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The GDM patients were treated with either diet alone or with additional insulin in some patients who required better control of their blood sugar levels. Patients with GDM had a significantly higher incidence of pre-eclampsia (p<0.0001); preterm delivery (p=0.0226); induction of labor (p<0.0001); cesarean section (p=0.0019); higher mean birth weight (p<0.0001) of babies; large for gestational age infants (p=0.0011); macrosomia (p=0.0186); and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (p=0.0003), compared with the control group. However, the rates of Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia and the need for phototherapy were similar in both groups of patients. Congenital anomalies and perinatal mortality rates were not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: GDM is recognized to be associated with increased rates of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, which are supported by the findings of this study. Even the mild form of GDM seems to have significant consequences for women and their offspring and is recommended to be aggressively treated. Evidence suggests that early diagnosis and strict control of blood sugar levels throughout the pregnancy can significantly reduce maternal and fetal complications. A multicenter, randomized controlled trial, based on universally accepted criteria for GDM screening test, standardized diagnostic OGTT and management of all patients with GDM versus the standard obstetric management of the control is warranted.