SCREENING FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES IN A MULTIETHNIC POPULATION

A multi-ethnic population was screened for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using a venous plasma glucose estimation, 1 h following a standard 50 g glucose load. A significant difference in the ethnic distribution of screen-positivity was found. Amongst the screen-positive group the odds ratio (OR) for special care baby facility (SCBU) admission and birthweight > 3999 g were both increased (OR = 1.87 and 1.99). Only limited diagnostic testing by a glucose tolerance test (GTT) could be achieved for the screen-positive population. For patients with confirmed GDM (two or more abnormal values on a GTT) the OR for SCBU admission was further increased to 5.1, while the OR for increased birthweight was only 1.34. Clinical attention should be directed towards outcome assessment in order to properly evaluate the nature of and place for screening for GDM in multi-ethnic populations.