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Relationship between maternal glycaemia and birth weight in glucose‐tolerant women from different ethnic groups in New Zealand
Author(s) -
Simmons D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2007.02081.x
Subject(s) - medicine , birth weight , gestational diabetes , confounding , odds ratio , ethnic group , population , diabetes mellitus , gestation , demography , obstetrics , pregnancy , endocrinology , environmental health , genetics , sociology , anthropology , biology
Aim The aim of this study was to compare the population attributable fraction (PAF) for a large baby (≥ 4 kg) due to glycaemia, weight and smoking in glucose‐tolerant women from different ethnic groups. Methods A retrospective review of screening for gestational diabetes (GDM) and associated birth weight was undertaken in New Zealand European ( n = 529), Maori ( n = 540) and Pacific ( n = 916) women. The proportion with a large baby was compared by 1‐h post 50‐g glucose challenge test tertile and maternal weight tertile. Results Large babies were more common from Pacific and European than Maori women (24.3%, 18.8%, 8.9%, respectively; P < 0.001). Birth weight increased significantly with increasing glucose among Pacific women ( P < 0.001) even after adjusting for maternal weight and other confounders. The risk of having a large baby was 2.56 (1.82–3.60)‐fold greater in women in the highest maternal weight tertile (≥ 84 kg), with a significantly greater PAF in Pacific women (27.2%, 12.9%, 16.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). The odds ratio (OR) of having a large baby increased with even mildly elevated maternal 1‐h glucose concentrations [OR for 5.6–6.2 mmol/l: 1.54 (1.11–2.14); for ≥ 6.3 mmol/l: 2.06 (1.50–2.82)], with no ethnic differences in PAF (11.1–11.8%, 16.7–18.7%, respectively). Smoking and being Maori were associated with smaller babies. Conclusions Increased maternal weight and glycaemia are associated with a greater proportion of large babies among glucose‐tolerant women. Growth of Pacific babies may be more sensitive to a higher maternal glucose when the mother is obese.