Aims: To assess correlations of anthropometric measurements with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and 1-h blood glucose after a 50 g glucose challenge test during the first and late second trimesters and explore their relationships of anthropometric measurements with neonatal birth weight.
Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted among pregnant Thai women with gestational age ≤14 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, using body mass index, body compositions, and circumferences, and skinfold thickness, were measured at four-time points: ≤14, 18-22, 24-28, and 30-34 weeks of gestation. HbA1c and 1-h blood glucose were examined at ≤14 and 24-28 weeks. Neonatal birth weight was recorded.
Results: Of 312 women, HbA1c was more correlated with anthropometric measurements during pregnancy than 1-h blood glucose. At 24-28 weeks, women with high/very high body fat percentage were more likely to have higher HbA1c. Women with high subscapular skinfold thickness were more likely to have higher 1-h blood glucose at ≤14 and 24-28 weeks. High hip circumference significantly increased neonatal birth weights.
Conclusion: Anthropometric measurements were longitudinally correlated with HbA1c and 1-h blood glucose, higher in the late second than first trimesters, as well as neonatal birth weight. The mechanisms to explain the relationship of different anthropometric measurements are required to be further studied.
Keywords: 1-h glucose levels after 50 g glucose challenge test; HbA1c; anthropometric measurements; glycated hemoglobin; longitudinal study; pregnant women.
© 2022 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.