A Single-center Study of the Predictors of Postpartum Prediabetes in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes

ABSTRACT

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between prediabetes risk factors, such as hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) levels, age, body mass index, treatment regimen, and history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) inwomen with GDM and impaired glucose tolerance postpartum. Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed themedical records of the women with GDM who were followed up at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah,Saudi Arabia, between January 2014 and January 2018. A data collection form was designed to collectdemographic and clinical data. The likelihood of postpartum pre-diabetes was predicted using binomial logisticregression. Results: Medical charts of 267 women (240 with normal and 27 with abnormal oral glucose tolerancetest results) were reviewed. We found that age ≥ 45 years (p=0.001), obesity (p=0.041), oral hypoglycemic agentuse (p=0.006), and insulin use (p=0.016) were significantly associated with a higher risk for postpartum glucoseintolerance. Conclusion: The predictors of prediabetes among women visiting our clinics were age ≥45 years,obesity, oral hypoglycemic agent use, and insulin use. Identifying these factors antepartum is necessary to preventthe occurrence of prediabetes in GDM cases.