title: Screening for gestational diabetes in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the incidence and severity of gestational diabetes in our hospital population which is predominantly Arab; 455 consecutive patients were screened by a 3-hour glucose tolerance test in the third trimester of pregnancy. The overall incidence of gestational diabetes was found to be 11% and the incidence increased with increasing maternal age, parity and weight. A high prevalence of more severe degrees of gestational diabetes was noted among the Arabs. Glucose intolerance was observed in 2 patients in the absence of any risk factor. The most common high risk factor in patients found to have gestational diabetes was maternal age of 30 years or more.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Khwaja
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: al-Suleiman
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: al-Sibai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia