The association between gestational impaired glucose tolerance and hyperglycemic markers: A prospective study

Objective: To investigate the association between gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT), and laboratory and clinical hyperglycemic markers. Methods: A prospective study in Holon between 2017 and 2019. Women with a singleton term delivery and one abnormal value in their last three oral glucose tolerance test measurements (OGTTs; GIGT group, n = 60) were compared with control women with normal glucose challenge test (GCT) and/or OGTT measurements (n = 60). Primary outcomes were elevated cord-blood C-peptide (>90th percentile), maternal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), abnormal HbA1c (>5.7%), and neonatal skinfold thickness. Secondary outcomes included large for gestational age (LGA). Results: Women in the GIGT group were older (33.3 ± 5.3 vs 31.1 ± 4.8 years; P = 0.019), and had a higher rate of LGA (26.7% vs 6.7%; P = 0.005), macrosomia (13.3% vs 0%; P = 0.006), elevated C-peptide (16.7% vs 1.7%, P = 0.008), and abnormal HbA1c (13.3% vs 0%, P = 0.006). Skinfold thickness was also significantly higher in the GIGT group. HbA1c (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 10.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–91.91; P = 0.033) and GIGT (aOR, 11.43; 95% CI, 1.78–73.39; P = 0.01) were independently associated with LGA. Conclusion: Women with GIGT on OGTT demonstrated “hyperglycemic characteristics” relative to those with normal GCT and/or OGTT.