ABSTRACT
Pregnant women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of progressive carotid artery disorders. The current study evaluated carotid intima-media thickness [IMT] in pregnant women with gestational diabetes at two time points of mid-term and full-term pregnancy to determine whether gestational diabetes mellitus causes increased IMT. This cross-sectional study carried out at Afzalipour Hospital [Kerman, Iran] between 2009 and 2010, recruited 50 women who were at high risk of gestational diabetes during pregnancy and had an oral glucose challenge test [OGCT] as screening for gestational diabetes. B-mode ultrasound scans were performed at baseline and at two time points of midterm pregnancy [20 to 24 weeks] and full-term pregnancy [36 to 38 weeks] on all the participants. The mean IMT of common carotids and internal carotid arteries from two walls [near and far walls] at four different angles was assessed. An overall comparison between the impaired OGCT test group and the control group revealed significant differences in carotid IMT in the mid-term [0.65 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.06 mm; p value = 0.002] and full-term [0.65 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.04 mm; p value < 0.001] pregnancy; however, the trend of the changes in carotid IMT during mid to full-term pregnancy was insignificant in each group [p value > 0.05]. Carotid IMT was significantly higher in the women with gestational diabetes than that in the normoglycemic group in different trimesters. This finding denotes that atherosclerosis might start years before the diagnosis of gestational diabetes in vulnerable women
ABSTRACT
Anemia in pregnancy is associated with increased rates of maternal and perinatal mortality. To study the prevalence and risk factors of women with anemia during pregnancy in Kerman, Iran. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed based on 2213 pregnancies delivered during the years 2005-2007 in Kerman, Iran. Women with hemoglobinopathies such as thalassemia were excluded from analysis. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin [Hg] lower than 11 g/dl during pregnancy. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Overall, 104 [4.7%] women were anemic [Hg<11 g/dl], out of which 4.8% had severe anemia [Hg<7g/dl], 15.4% had moderate anemia [Hg=7-8.9 g/dl] and 79.8% had mild anemia [Hg= 9-10.9 g/dl]. The frequency of anemia were 5%, 3.4% and 5.7% in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. Multiparity was associated with lower hemoglobin concentration during the second/third trimester of pregnancy [p=0.03 and p<0.001, respectively]. Prevalence of anemia was significantly higher in smokers and opium users [p=0.01 and p=0.003, respectively]. Our study showed that prevalence of anemia was not high in this study. Factors associated with anemia during pregnancy were parity, smoking, opium use and not using Iron supplement