Objective: To evaluate glycated haemoglobin as a biomarker for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus while keeping the oral glucose tolerance test as the gold standard.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from Januray, 2016, to January, 2018, at PNS Hafeez Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan and comprised of pregnant subjects who were first subjected to 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test along with the first evaluation of glycated haemoglobin. Clinical evaluation, including history and measurements of anthropometric indices and blood pressure, were also done. On the basis of the results, the subjects were grouped as those having gestational diabetes mellitus (group A) and those without it (group B). Data was analysed using SPSS 15.
Results: Of the 280 subjects, gestational diabetes mellitus was found in 50(17.85%). Differences in glycated haemoglobin between the groups was significant (p<0.002). Glycated haemoglobin test provided sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 84.78%.
Conclusions: With due adjustments, glycated haemoglobin testing can help in reducing the frequency of oral glucose tolerance test.
Keywords: HbA1c, Gestational diabetes mellitus, 2-hour OGTT..