title: Gestational diabetes in a developing country, experience of screening at the Aga Khan University Medical Centre, Karachi.
abstract: In order to determine the prevalence of glucose intolerance in pregnancy, 1267 consecutive women attending the antenatal clinic of the Aga Khan University Medical Centre were subjected to a 75 g glucose challenge followed 2 hr later by plasma glucose determination irrespective of gestation on the first antenatal visit. The test was repeated at 28-32 weeks of gestation if the patients had an abnormal initial screen at less than 28 weeks gestation and a normal glucose tolerance test on diagnostic follow-up and for those who had a risk factor for gestational diabetes and a normal initial screen at less than 28 weeks gestation. The glucose challenge test was abnormal (2 hr plasma glucose greater than 140 mg%) in 8.6% of the screened population. Follow-up oral glucose tolerance test on these patients revealed a prevalence of 3.2% of gestational diabetes and 1.9% of impaired glucose tolerance test based on the modified O'Sullivan criteria. Improvement in cost effectiveness of screening programmes was adjudged possible by avoiding glucose tolerance tests in patients with 2 hr plasma glucose value of greater than 170 mg% after a 75 g oral glucose challenge for screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors