First-trimester glycosylated hemoglobin in women at high risk for gestational diabetes

Our aim was to investigate the prognostic value of first-trimester glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in pregnant women with risk factors for developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

This is an observational retrospective cohort study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland. We included pregnant women at high risk for GDM (n = 208), who had an HbA1c measurement in the first trimester. We compared HbA1c values of women who later developed GDM with those who did not develop GDM. Diagnosis of GDM was made on the basis of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test performed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. We further examined the prevalence of GDM in relation to the first-trimester HbA1c value.

The prevalence of GDM in our high-risk group was 14.7%. Women who developed GDM had significantly higher first-trimester HbA1c values [5.43 ± 0.31% (36 ± 3 mmol/mol) vs. 5.23 ± 0.28% (34 ± 3 mmol/mol); p = 0.0026]. Moreover, all pregnant women with HbA1c ≥ 6.0% (42 mmol/mol) developed GDM, whereas those with < 4.5% (26 mmol/mol) did not.

Women at risk for GDM have higher first-trimester HbA1c levels and values ≥ 6.0% (42 mmol/mol) are predictive of GDM. This information may be useful for counseling these women and providing appropriate advice on diet and lifestyle modification early in pregnancy.