Use of hemoglobin A1c as an early predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus

The purpose of this study was to assess an early hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) value from 5.7-6.4% as an early predictor of progression to gestational diabetes (GDM).

A retrospective cohort study was performed on all women who delivered at a single institution over 2 years who had an early screening HgbA1c test performed at ≤20 weeks of gestation. Women with known preexisting diabetes mellitus or HgbA1c values ≥6.5% were excluded. The primary outcome was GDM development. Secondary outcomes included delivery route, maternal weight gain, birthweight, and neonatal morbidities. Women with an HgbA1c value of 5.7-6.4% were compared with those with an HgbA1c level of <5.7%.

Nearly one-third of those patients in the HgbA1c 5.7-6.4% group (27.3%) experience the development of GDM compared with only 8.7% in the HgbA1c <5.7% group (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence level, 2.0-7.7). This 3-fold increase remained significant (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4) after adjustment for age, prepregnancy body mass index, gestational age at HgbA1c collection, gestational age at screening, ethnicity, and method of screening. There were no significant differences in the need for medical treatment, weight gain, delivery route, birthweight, macrosomia, or neonatal morbidities.

More than 10% of patients in our cohort had an early screening HgbA1c value of 5.7-6.4%. Women in this group have a significantly higher risk of progression to GDM compared with women with normal HgbA1c values and should be considered for closer GDM surveillance and possible intervention.