Correlation Between Anthropometric Measurements and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Parallel to the global obesity epidemic, the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been increasing, constituting a significant public health concern.

In our study, we aimed to research the ability to determine the risk factors for GDM with anthropometric measurements of pregnant cases.

This study was conducted cross-sectionally and prospectively. Body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy; BW, BMI, neck circumference (NC), waist circumference, and hip circumference (HC) at ≤14 gestational weeks; BW and BMI values, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 gestational weeks, were analyzed.

From 415 participant pregnant cases in the first trimester, 101 pregnant cases completed the study. Participants were divided into two groups as those diagnosed and not diagnosed with GDM. The BW (P = 0.034) before pregnancy; BW (P = 0.021), BMI (P = 0.003), NC (P = 0.035), HC (P = 0.026) and neck circumference/height ratio (NHtR; P = 0.040) in the first trimester and BW (P = 0.008) and BMI (P = 0.013) in the OGTT period were statistically significantly higher for those with GDM compared to those without GDM. In the logistic regression analysis model, pre-pregnancy BW (Cox and Snell Nagelkerke R2: 0.127, OR 95%, Cl: 0.849 (0.740-0.975), P = 0.020) and first trimester BW (Cox and Snell Nagelkerke R2: 0.127, OR 95%, Cl: 0.849 (0.740-0.975), P = 0.023) were identified to be independent determinants of GDM. A 1 unit increase in pre-pregnancy BW increased the risk of GDM by 0.849 times (P = 0.020), while a 1 unit increase in first trimester BW increased the risk of GDM by 1.158 times (P = 0.033).

Pre-pregnancy BW and BMI values and first trimester NC, NHtR, BW, and BMI values may be reliable measurement methods to predict GDM.