Evaluation of the gestational diabetes mellitus diagnostic criteria recommended by the international association of diabetes and pregnancy study group for long-term maternal postpartum outcomes in mainland China

The gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnostic criteria recommended by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) were established based on the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study and have been the most commonly used criteria for determining GDM worldwide. Although individuals from mainland China were not included in the HAPO study, the IADPSG criteria have been used in China since 2011. However, the appropriateness of the criteria for evaluating maternal postpartum outcomes in mainland China are unknown. We conducted this study to determine whether the IADPSG criteria are appropriate for Chinese patients for evaluating long-term maternal postpartum outcomes. Eighty-four patients who were diagnosed with hyperglycemia during pregnancy and had delivery in Peking University First Hospital from February 2007 to December 2009 were enrolled in the study. For patients in Group A, GDM was diagnosed using both the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) and the IADPSG criteria, while patients in Group B, gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT) was diagnosed using the NDDG criteria while GDM was diagnosed based on the IADPSG criteria. Anthropometric data, glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, β cell function, and insulin resistance index were evaluated and compared to baseline after 5- to 6-year postpartum period. Patients in group A had significantly higher oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) fasting, 2-hour and 3-hour plasma glucose levels compared to patients in group B at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation (P < .05). No significant differences were observed between the groups for anthropometric data, postpartum abnormal glucose metabolism (50.91% vs 44.83%, P = .596), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (16.36% vs 3.45%, P = .167), lipid profiles, β cell function (homeostasis model assessment β-cell function index (HOMA-β) 1.04 vs 0.99, P = .935) and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) 2.01 vs 1.69, P = .583). Patients diagnosed with GDM using either the NDDG or IADPSG criteria had abnormal glucose levels and lipid metabolism after delivery. Patients with mild hyperglycemia had similar postpartum β-cell functional impairment and insulin resistance to those with moderate hyperglycemia during pregnancy. Hence, with respect to maternal long-term postpartum outcomes, the IADPSG diagnostic criteria for GDM could be appropriate for patients in mainland China.