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Reference range for glycated haemoglobin in full term non diabetic pregnant women: a multicentric cross sectional study

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

There are no large studies to define the normal value of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measured in full term pregnant women measured at the time of delivery.

Research design and methods

The study was conducted at three government hospitals in South India. Clinical data, maternal blood sample and foetal cord blood sample were collected from women admitted for safe confinement. Mean (± SD) of HbA1c in participants with no known diabetes (gestational or pregestational) or any complications (maternal or fetal) is described, 2.5th–97.5th centile reference range was derived.

Results

From 3 centres, 2004 women participated in the study. Data from 1039 participants who had no history of diabetes or any maternal or fetal complication were used to determine the reference range for HbA1c at term pregnancy. The mean HbA1c in subjects devoid of diabetes and its known complications was 5.0 (± 0.39) %. The reference range for normal HbA1c at term in these women was found to be 4.3–5.9%. Maternal HbA1c at term pregnancy in non-diabetic pregnant women is associated with pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal age and 2-h plasma glucose level of 2nd trimester oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Conclusions

The mean HbA1c at term pregnancy in non-diabetic women admitted for safe confinement is 5.00 (± 0.39) %. An HbA1c of 5.9% or more at term should be considered abnormal and women with such a value may be kept at a close surveillance for development of diabetes.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

Government of Kerala State (Health Department) and The Indian Institute of Diabetes, Thiruvananthapuram are acknowledged for funding the study. The authors hereby acknowledge the support extended by Dr. Remla A, Senior Scientific Officer, Indian Institute of Diabetes, Trivandrum, in supervision of biochemical measurements and biochemical data management. Mr. Sajeev S, Ms. Arya Suresh, Mrs. Divya, Mrs. Jessy Sam, Mrs. Archana Nibu and Mr. Sudi Sisupalan (Research Assistants, Department of Endocrinology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram) are acknowledged for their role in clinical data acquisition, entry, and tabulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Government Medical College, Kottayam, India

    Jayakumari Chellamma

  2. Indian Institute of Diabetes, Thiruvananthapuram, India

    R. V. Jayakumar, Abilash Nair & Jabbar Puthiyaveettil Khadar

  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, India

    Abilash Nair & Jabbar Puthiyaveettil Khadar

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, India

    C. Nirmala

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Kottayam, India

    C. P. Vijayan

  6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, W&C Hospital, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram, India

    Asha Babu

  7. Department of Paediatrics, ESIC Model Super Specialty Hospital, Kollam, India

    Anjana Gopi

Authors
  1. Jayakumari Chellamma
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  2. R. V. Jayakumar
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Contributions

Author RVJ conceived the project and reviewed the manuscript. AN, CJ and PKJ conducted the study. And JC analyzed the data. AG reviewed the literature and prepared the manuscript. CN, CPV, AB contributed to data acquisition, discussion and reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jayakumari Chellamma or Abilash Nair.

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The authors have nothing to disclose and there are no conflict of interest.

Guarantor statement

Dr. Abilash Nair and Dr. Jayakumari C are the guarantors of this work and, as such, had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

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Chellamma, J., Jayakumar, R.V., Nair, A. et al. Reference range for glycated haemoglobin in full term non diabetic pregnant women: a multicentric cross sectional study. Arch Gynecol Obstet (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-07231-1

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