WAIST-TO-HEIGHT RATIO AS A PREDICTOR OF GLUCOSE DYSREGULATION IN EARLY OGTT IN EARLY PREGNANCY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between maternal waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and glucose levels following a 2-hour, 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) among women who are in the early stages of pregnancy (13-18 weeks of gestation).

Study setting and duration: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi over a six-month period from Feb -Aug 2024

Materials and Methods: A total of 156 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies at or below 18 weeks underwent a 2-hour, 75-g OGTT. Key anthropometric measures, including waist circumference (WC), height, and body mass index (BMI), were recorded, and WHtR was calculated. Glucose levels were assessed at fasting, 1-hour, and 2-hour intervals post-OGTT. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 with statistical tests such as the independent t-test and Chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Results: The majority of participants were aged 25-34 years (51.3%), with 38.5% categorized as overweight. Women with a WHtR of 0.5 or greater exhibited significantly heightened fasting (5.5 ± 0.8 mmol/L), 1-hour (9.9 ± 1.5 mmol/L), and 2-hour (8.5 ± 1.0 mmol/L) glucose levels in comparison to those with WHtR below 0.5 (p < 0.05). The analysis revealed that WHtR was more strongly associated with increased glucose levels than BMI.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a WHtR of 0.5 or higher in early pregnancy correlates significantly with elevated glucose levels during OGTT, underscoring its potential utility as a reliable marker for detecting glucose dysregulation. Incorporating WHtR into standard metabolic assessments could significantly enhance the early identification of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk