How do we reduce the number of cases of missed postpartum diabetes in women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus?
OBJECTIVE
Up to 30% of women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remain glucose intolerant after delivery. However, the rate of postpartum oral glucose tolerance tests (ppOGTTs) is low. Our aim in this study was to develop a model for risk assessment to target women with high risk for postpartum diabetes.


METHODS
In 605 Caucasian women with GDM, antenatal obstetrical and glucose data and the glucose data of the ppOGTTs performed 13 weeks (median) after delivery were prospectively collected.


RESULTS
A total of 132 (21.8%) women had an abnormal ppOGTT (2.8% impaired fasting glucose, 13.6% impaired glucose tolerance, and 5.5% diabetes). Independent risk factors were BMI >or=30 kg/m(2) (prevalence of abnormal ppOGTT 36.0 vs. 17.3%), gestational age at diagnosis <24 weeks (32.4 vs. 18.0%), 1-h antenatal value >200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) (35.2 vs. 14.8%), and insulin therapy (30.3 vs. 14.5%). The prevalence of an abnormal ppOGTT was assessed according to the number of risk factors: 0, 9.2% (14 of 153); 1, 13.4% (25 of 186); 2, 28.5% (43 of 151); 3, 45.6% (26 of 57); and 4, 68.4% (13 of 19). Subjects were divided according to a significant increase of prevalence and risk for a ppOGTT: low risk (59.9% of subjects), <2 risk factors, 11.6%, odds ratio 1.3; intermediate risk, 2 risk factors, 28.5%, 4.0; and high risk, >2 risk factors, 51.3%, 10.5. The intermediate/high-risk group included 86.6% of those with diabetes and 67% of all those with abnormal ppOGTTs.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with >or=2 risk factors have a high risk for an abnormal ppOGTT, and 86% of postpartum diabetes is diagnosed within this group. Targeting women for ppOGTTs based on a risk assessment using available antenatal risk factors might reduce the number of missed cases of postpartum diabetes.
Schaefer-Graf
Ute M
UM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Joseph's Hospital, Berlin, Germany. ute.schaefer-graf@sjk.de
Klavehn
Silke
S
Hartmann
Reinhard
R
Kleinwechter
Helmut
H
Demandt
Norbert
N
Sorger
Marianne
M
Kjos
Siri L
SL
Vetter
Klaus
K
Abou-Dakn
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin