A cross-sectional study to develop an early risk prediction tool for gestational diabetes mellitus for antenatal women diagnosed with this condition based on their characteristics and past obstetric history

BACKGROUND: In India, the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is estimated to be 10%–14.3%, which is higher than in Western countries. Out of 10 pregnancies, one is associated with diabetes, and 90% of them are GDM. GDM influences not only maternal complications but also neonatal complications. Moreover, women with GDM and their children are at increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes later. METHOD AND MATERIAL: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 patients to develop an early risk prediction tool for GDM for antenatal women diagnosed with this condition based on their characteristics and past obstetric history. RESULTS: The mean age (in years) of patients in the study was 27.69 ± 5.07. One hundred and twenty-six patients (57.27%) had a family history of DM in their first relatives. Eighty-three (58.86%) patients had a history of complications in a previous pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The early risk predictor tool with age, prepregnancy, body mass index (BMI), family history of DM, gravidity, past history of menstrual cycle, and complications in a previous pregnancy was easy to operate, and all predictors were easily obtained in the first trimester in primary healthcare centers.