The influence of fasting and post-load glucose levels on maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with hyperglycaemia in pregnancy in Uganda: A prospective observational cohort study

Abstract

Aims: The study aims to evaluate the strength of fasting versus post-load glucose levels in predicting adverse outcomes in women with hyperglycaemia in pregnancy (HIP).

Methods: Women attending antenatal clinics in urban and peri-urban Uganda had oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation to screen for HIP, and were followed up to collect data on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Univariable and multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate the relative risk adverse outcome associated with fasting hyperglycaemia alone post-load hyperglycaemia alone, or elevation of both fasting and post-load glucose levels.

Results: We included 3206 participants in the final analysis. HIP was associated with increased risk of Caesarean section, large for gestaional age babies, and neonatal intensive care admission. The risk was highest (2.54-fold compared to normal glycaemic women) when both FBG and post-load glucose levels were elevated. After adjustment for potential confounders, having elevated post-load glucose alone was not associated with increased risk of any of the outcomes, but elevated FBG alone increased the risk of Caesarian section by 1.36-fold.

Conclusion: Fasting hyperglycemia appears to be more strongly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes than post-load hyperglycaemia, but the risk is even higher in women with elevation of both fasting and post-load glucose levels.

Keywords: Gestational diabetes; Hyperglycaemia in pregnancy; Maternal and neonatal Outcomes; Oral glucose tolerence; sub-Saharan Africa.