Predictive Value of Body Composition Indicators in Early Pregnancy for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy. It is characterized by normal or possibly impaired glucose metabolism before pregnancy and abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy. We evaluate the predictive value of body composition indicators in early pregnancy for GDM.

Pregnant women who visited Huaibei Maternal and Child Health Hospital from November 2022 to April 2023 were selected as study participants. Body composition indicators were measured using bioelectrical impedance assessment at 11-14 weeks of gestation. Study subjects completed a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Relationships between body composition indicators and GDM were explored using multivariate logistic regression. Additionally, the predictive value of body composition indicators for GDM was assessed through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and restricted cubic spline (RCS).

Five hundred eighty-eight participants were enrolled, 100 of whom had a diagnosis of GDM (17.9%). We found that percent body fat (PBF) and visceral fat index (VFI) were associated with a higher risk of GDM, with adjusting ORs of 1.82 (95% CI = 1.50-2.21) and 6.10 (95% CI = 3.91-9.51) after adjusting for confounders, respectively. The ROC showed that PBF and VFI were highly predictive values for GDM. The RCS displayed that there was a J-shaped connection between 3-point OGTT plasma glucose and PBF. There was a nonlinear relationship between 1-h plasma glucose and VFI.

The findings suggest that PBF and VFI have high predictive value for GDM.