Comparison of Effectiveness of Routine Antenatal Care with a Midwife-Managed Clinic Service in Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Early Pregnancy at a Hospital in China

BACKGROUND Women with normal fasting glucose (FPG) range (5.1 ≤FPG <6.09 mmol/L) in early pregnancy are at high risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of routine antenatal care with a midwife-managed clinic service in the prevention of GDM in early pregnancy at a hospital in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS We designed a prospective observational clinical study among pregnancy women with normal fasting glucose (FPG) range (5.1 ≤FPG <6.09 mmol/L) in early pregnancy. Routine antenatal care was compared with a midwife-managed clinic service providing diet and exercise education before week 16. A 75-g OGTT was performed at weeks 24-28 for both groups. Results of OGTT and gestational weight gain were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Of the 592 eligible women, 296 women received the antenatal nursing clinic service and 296 were enrolled in a control group. Thirty-three women were lost to follow-up during the study, leaving 279 in the intervention group and 280 in the control group. Baseline demographic characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. GDM was diagnosed in 115 participants (41.2%) in the intervention group and 141 (50.4%) in the control group. Subgroup analysis showed a significantly lower rate of GDM in the intervention group among the No-IVF population (37.8% vs. 49.0%, P=0.01%). For pre-pregnancy BMI, significant differences were found in the incidence of GDM and maternal hypertension between the different groups, showing that the overweight group benefited most from the midwife-managed antenatal clinic service. CONCLUSIONS The midwife-managed clinic service was feasible and effective in the prevention of GDM.