High HbA1c levels in early to mid-pregnancy associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes: Study

The key findings of the study were:

• Among 9,510 pregnant women analyzed, mean HbA1c levels varied across regions:

• Bangladesh (5.31 ± 0.37), Tanzania (5.22 ± 0.49), and Pakistan (5.07 ± 0.58).

• The multivariate analysis revealed that maternal HbA1c levels ≥ 6.5 were independently associated with increased risks of stillbirths (aRR = 6.3, 95% CI = 3.4,11.6), preterm births (aRR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.8–6.7), and Large for Gestational Age (aRR = 5.5, 95% CI = 2.9–10.6).

• These findings advocate for early interventions to mitigate risks in these regions.

In conclusion, elevated maternal HbA1c levels during early to mid-pregnancy pose a significant risk for adverse outcomes, including stillbirths, preterm births, and Large for Gestational Age babies, in South Asian and Sub-Saharan African populations. These findings highlight the importance of early monitoring and intervention strategies to mitigate these risks and improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Reference:

Nisar, M. I., Das, S., Khanam, R., Khalid, J., Chetia, S., Hasan, T., Shahid, S., Marijani, M. L., Ahmed, S., Khalid, F., Ali, S. M., Chowdhury, N. H., Mehmood, U., Dutta, A., Rahman, S., Qazi, M. F., Deb, S., Mitra, D. K., Usmani, A. A., … Jehan, F. Early to mid-pregnancy HbA1c levels and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes in three low middle-income countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth,2024;24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06241-w