Relationship of anthropometric measurements with glycated hemoglobin and 1-h blood glucose after 50 g glucose challenge test in pregnant women: A longitudinal cohort study in Southern Thailand.

AIMS: To assess correlations of anthropometric measurements with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and 1-h blood glucose after a 50 g glucose challenge test during the first and late second trimesters and explore their relationships of anthropometric measurements with neonatal birth weight. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted among pregnant Thai women with gestational age ≤14 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, using body mass index, body compositions, and circumferences, and skinfold thickness, were measured at four-time points: ≤14, 18-22, 24-28, and 30-34 weeks of gestation. HbA1c and 1-h blood glucose were examined at ≤14 and 24-28 weeks. Neonatal birth weight was recorded. RESULTS: Of 312 women, HbA1c was more correlated with anthropometric measurements during pregnancy than 1-h blood glucose. At 24-28 weeks, women with high/very high body fat percentage were more likely to have higher HbA1c. Women with high subscapular skinfold thickness were more likely to have higher 1-h blood glucose at ≤14 and 24-28 weeks. High hip circumference significantly increased neonatal birth weights. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric measurements were longitudinally correlated with HbA1c and 1-h blood glucose, higher in the late second than first trimesters, as well as neonatal birth weight. The mechanisms to explain the relationship of different anthropometric measurements are required to be further studied.

Correlations of spot urinary sodium and potassium with blood pressure in pregnant women: A longitudinal study in Southern Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the changes of spot urinary sodium and potassium and blood pressure (BP) throughout pregnancy and their correlations in southern Thailand. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted in southern Thailand from March 2018 to November 2019. Spot urinary excretion of sodium per creatinine (U[Na+ ]/[Cr]), potassium per creatinine (U[K+ ]/[Cr]) and U[Na+ ]/[K+ ] ratios, and BP were measured at four time points throughout pregnancy. A one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni correction with post hoc analysis was used to identify significant differences between time points. The correlations were measured using Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: A total of 327 pregnant women were included. Both systolic and diastolic BPs decreased gradually from up to 14 weeks of pregnancy to 18-22 weeks and then increased until 30-34 weeks. Mean spot U[Na+ ]/[Cr] ratios did not significantly change during the study period. Mean spot U[K+ ]/[Cr] ratios gradually increased, and spot U[Na+ ]/[K+ ] ratios gradually decreased. The correlation of spot U[Na+ ]/[Cr] and U[K+ ]/[Cr] ratios with BPs was weakly negative at all four time points. CONCLUSIONS: Spot U[Na+ ]/[Cr] and U[K+ ]/[Cr] ratios are inversely correlated with BPs; weak correlations are found among pregnant women in southern Thailand. Further research in different populations is required to confirm its correlation and broader use.