ABSTRACT
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of insulin resistance that develops in the second trimester of pregnancy. This type of diabetes ends after delivery. GDM poses serious health hazards to both the mother and the baby. Pathology behind this carbohydrate intolerance is insulin resistance. The previous studies have pointed out that this insulin resistance is due to oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radicals can be generated by iron. Since pregnancy is a condition where iron requirement rises, universal iron supplementation is given. According to the previous studies, excess iron can cause free-radical mediated injury leading on to diabetes. Supplementation of a prooxidant irrespective of body iron stores may be more harmful than beneficial. Hemoglobin and PCV are two hematological parameters that reflect body iron stores. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare hemoglobin and PCV values in pregnant woman with and without GDM. Materials and Methods: A case–control study was done in the obstetric department of a tertiary care center in south India from August 2010 to December 2010.The study included 85 cases and 85 controls. Cases were pregnant women at 24–28 weeks of gestation with gestational diabetes who attended the obstetric OPD during the study period. GDM was diagnosed as per ADA guidelines. Controls were pregnant women at 24–28 weeks gestation without GDM as per ADA guidelines. Data for the study were collected using a preformed tested questionnaire. All subjects were provided with iron supplementation according to the national programme. Estimation of hemoglobin and PCV was done with 2 ml of blood sample obtained by venepuncture using an automated analyzer. The association of elevated hemoglobin and PCV with the risk of developing GDM was tested using Chi-square analysis. P ? 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Hemoglobin in cases and controls showed a significant difference by Chi-square analysis (P = 0.004). PCV in cases was significantly higher than in controls by Chi-square analysis (P = 0.003). Conclusion: The study found a statistically significant association between higher maternal hemoglobin level and PCV with GDM.
ABSTRACT
Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a spectrum of disease usually producing symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation. Its prevalence in general population is about 12–17% worldwide. There are many suggested risk factors for GERD. Aim and Objective: This study was conducted to find out whether smoking, diabetes mellitus (DM), and obesity are risk factors of GERD and to find out the extraesophageal symptoms of GERD. Materials and Methods: This is a case–control study matched for age done in 46 GERD patients who were cases and 92 subjects with dyspepsia who were not having GERD as controls. The statistical analysis was done to find out proportions and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Most of the study subjects were in the age group of 40–49 years. About 59% were males. About 14% were smokers and 25% were diabetics. OR for smoking, DM, and obesity was 3.706, 5.571, and 3.618, respectively. About 28% of the GERD patients had easy tiredness. Conclusion: In this study, smoking and DM were found to be the risk factors of GERD based on OR with 95% CI. The most frequent extraesophageal symptom among GERD patients was found to be tiredness.