Prevalence and Predictors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Enugu, Nigeria Using the New International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Diagnostic Criteria.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical condition arising from impaired glucose tolerance and complicating pregnancies worldwide. An estimation of its current prevalence using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) new diagnostic criteria is important in its management.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and predictors of GDM among pregnant women attending antenatal care in the two tertiary teaching hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 254 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), both in Enugu, Nigeria. The eligible women were recruited between 24 and 28 weeks gestational age during which their fasting blood glucose levels were tested and GDM diagnosed using the new FIGO diagnostic criteria, which is fasting plasma glucose of 5.1-6.9 mmoL/L. All data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 (Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software, version 22.0, IBM SPSS, Chicago, Illinois) at 95% confidence level. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The prevalence of GDM was 5.5% (n = 14/254) using the new diagnostic criteria. About 42.9% (6/14) of those who had GDM from the new criteria had no risk factor. Obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14, confidence interval [CI]: 1.07, 4.30, P = 0.04) and family history of diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.24, 5.01, P = 0.013) were the predictors of GDM.

Conclusion: The prevalence of GDM is high with the new diagnostic criteria. Obesity and family history of diabetes mellitus were the predictors of GDM in Enugu, Nigeria.