Prediction of Glucose Intolerance in Early Postpartum in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Based on the 2013 WHO Criteria

• Main Authors: Katrien Benhalima, Paul Van Crombrugge, Carolien Moyson, Johan Verhaeghe, Sofie Vandeginste, Hilde Verlaenen, Chris Vercammen, Toon Maes, Els Dufraimont, Christophe De Block, Yves Jacquemyn, Farah Mekahli, Katrien De Clippel, Annick Van Den Bruel, Anne Loccufier, Annouschka Laenen, Caro Minschart, Roland Devlieger, Chantal Mathieu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: glucose intolerance; postpartum; gestational diabetes mellitus; 2013 WHO criteria; risk factors; prediction
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/8/3/383

Predictors for glucose intolerance postpartum were evaluated in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. 1841 women were tested for GDM in a prospective cohort study. A postpartum 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in women with GDM at 14 ± 4.1 weeks. Of all 231 mothers with GDM, 83.1% (192) had a postpartum OGTT of which 18.2% (35) had glucose intolerance. Women with glucose intolerance were more often of Asian origin [15.1% vs. 3.7%, OR 4.64 (1.26–17.12)], had more often a recurrent history of GDM [41.7% vs. 26.7%, OR 3.68 (1.37–9.87)], higher fasting glycaemia (FPG) [5.1 (4.5–5.3) vs. 4.6 (4.3–5.1) mmol/L, OR 1.05 (1.01–1.09)], higher HbA1c [33 (31–36) vs. 32 (30–33) mmol/mol, OR 4.89 (1.61–14.82)], and higher triglycerides [2.2 (1.9–2.8) vs. 2.0 (1.6–2.5) mmol/L, OR 1.00 (1.00–1.01)]. Sensitivity of glucose challenge test (GCT) ≥7.2 mmol/l for glucose intolerance postpartum was 80% (63.1%–91.6%). The area under the curve to predict glucose intolerance was 0.76 (0.65–0.87) for FPG, 0.54 (0.43–0.65) for HbA1c and 0.75 (0.64–0.86) for both combined. In conclusion, nearly one-fifth of women with GDM have glucose intolerance postpartum. A GCT ≥7.2 mmol/L identifies a high risk population for glucose intolerance postpartum.