Relationship between maternal glycaemia and birth  weight in glucose-tolerant women from different ethnic  groups in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the population attributable fraction(PAF) for a large baby (> or =4 kg) due to glycaemia, weight and smoking in glucose-tolerant women from different ethnic groups.


METHODS
A retrospective review of screening for gestational diabetes (GDM)and associated birth weight was undertaken in New Zealand European (n= 529), Maori (n= 540) and Pacific (n= 916) women. The proportion with a large baby was compared by 1-h post 50-g glucose challenge test tertile and maternal weight tertile.


RESULTS
Large babies were more common from Pacific and European than Maori women (24.3%, 18.8%, 8.9%, respectively; P<0.001). Birth weight increased significantly with increasing glucose among Pacific women (P<0.001) even after adjusting for maternal weight and other confounders. The risk of having a large baby was 2.56 (1.82-3.60)-fold greater in women in the highest maternal weight tertile (> or =84 kg), with a significantly greater PAF in Pacific women(27.2%, 12.9%, 16.4%, respectively; P<0.001). The odds ratio (OR) of having a large baby increased with even mildly elevated maternal 1-h glucose concentrations [OR for 5.6-6.2 mmol/l: 1.54 (1.11-2.14); for > or =6.3 mmol/l: 2.06 (1.50-2.82)], with no ethnic differences in PAF (11.1-11.8%, 16.7-18.7%, respectively). Smoking and being Maori were associated with smaller babies.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased maternal weight and glycaemia are associated with a greater proportion of large babies among glucose-tolerant women. Growth of Pacific babies may be more sensitive to a higher maternal glucose when the mother is obese.
Simmons
D
D
Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand. simmonsd@waikatodhb.govt.nz
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications; D009035:Mothers; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose