Objective
To investigate the use of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to identify women at low risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and GDM-related adverse outcomes, limiting the need for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Design and setting
Pooled data from four Norwegian pregnancy cohorts, collected between 2002 and 2013.
Population
2960 pregnant women universally screened with mid-pregnancy 75g OGTT measuring FPG and 2-hour glucose.
Methods
For a range of FPG thresholds, we calculated sensitivity to predict elevated 2-hour glucose, number of OGTTs needed and percentage of GDM cases missed, applying modified 2013World Health Organization (2013WHO) and 2017Norwegian criteria. We analyzed pregnancy outcomes such as large-for-gestational-age newborns, cesarean section and operative delivery for women above and below our selected threshold.
Results
The prevalence of GDM was 16.6% with the 2013WHO criteria and 10.1% with the 2017Norwegian criteria. A FPG threshold of 4.7mmol/L had a sensitivity of 76% (2013WHO) and 80% (2017Norwegian) for detecting elevated 2-hour glucose, with few missed GDM cases (7% for 2013WHO, 8% for 2017Norwegian). Excluding women with FPG <4.7mmol/l and those with GDM based on FPG, only 24% (2013WHO) and 29% (2017Norwegian) would require OGTT. Women with FPG <4.7mmol/l, including missed GDM cases, had low risk of large-for-gestational-age newborns, cesarean section and operative delivery.
Conclusion
A FPG threshold of 4.7mmol/l as a first step when screening for GDM could potentially eliminate the need for OGTT in 70-77% of pregnancies. Women with FPG below this threshold appear to carry low risk of GDM-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes.