title: Role of A1c in the postpartum screening of women with gestational diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether A1c detects a different prediabetes prevalence in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to those diagnosed with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the influence of haemoglobin concentrations on A1c levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated carbohydrate metabolism status by performing OGTT and A1c tests in 141 postpartum women with prior GDM in the first year post-delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of prediabetes was 41.8%. Prevalence of isolated A1c 5.7-6.4%, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was 10.6%, 7.1%, and 9.2%, respectively. Isolated A1c 5.7-6.4% was associated with Caucasian origin (66.7% versus 32.6%, p = 0.02) and with higher LDL cholesterol concentrations (123 ± 28.4 mg/dl versus 101.6 ± 19.2 mg/dl, p = 0.037) compared with patients diagnosed by OGTT (IFG or IGT). Women with postpartum anaemia had similar A1c levels to those with normal haemoglobin concentrations (5.5% ± 0.6% versus 5.4% ± 0.4%, p = 0.237).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of A1c in postpartum screening of women with GDM detected an additional 10.6% of patients with prediabetes and a more adverse lipid profile. Haemoglobin concentrations did not influence A1c values.
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. 96002@parcdesalutmar.cat
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Benaiges
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Chillaron
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pedro-Botet
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mas
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Puig de Dou
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Sagarra
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Carrera
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Goday
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Flores-Le Roux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human