Prevalence of Hyperglycaemia First Detected During Pregnancy and Subsequent Obstetric Outcomes At St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Background:

Women with hyperglycaemia detected during pregnancy are at greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Prevalence of this condition varies depending on the population studied and criteria used to define the condition. Information on the prevalence hyperglycaemia in pregnancy in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited. St. Francis hospital Nsambya lacks an organised screening programme for hyperglycaemia in pregnancy thus information on the prevalence and obstetric outcomes of women with hyperglycaemia first detected in pregnancy is lacking.

To determine the prevalence of Hyperglycaemia first detected during pregnancy and subsequent obstetric outcomes among pregnant women screened for hyperglycemia first detected in pregnancy at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya.

A prospective cohort study was done to evaluate the prevalence of Hyperglycaemia first detected in pregnancy and the subsequent obstetric outcomes between December 2013 and February 2014. All pregnant women attending antenatal care at Nsambya hospital at a gestation age between 24 to 36 weeks and no history of diabetes mellitus were enrolled into the study after giving written informed consent. All participants were screened for hyperglycemia using the 2013 WHO Diagnostic Criteria and Classification. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and obstetric outcomes was collected. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were then done to evaluate the association between hyperglycemia and obstetric outcomes.

251 women were screened. The prevalence of hyperglycaemia first detected in pregnancy was 31.9%. 95% of these had GDM and 5% had DM. 20.9% of women diagnosed with hyperglycemia had no known risk factors and there were no statistically significant differences in the obstetric outcomes between women with hyperglycemia and those with normoglycemia.

The prevalence of hyperglycaemia first detected in pregnancy was high in this population of pregnant women. A significant number of women with hyperglycemia had no risk factors thus selective screening using risk factors may miss out a big proportion of women with the condition.

Hyperglycaemia, screening and pregnancy.

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