Endocrine Abstracts

Research question: Are there ethnic differences in foetal growth patterns in GDM?

Methods: Retrospective data collection was undertaken for all women with GDM between 2008 and 2012 at University Hospital Coventry. Foetal biometric data was obtained at 28, 32, and 36 weeks gestation for 125 South-Asian (SA) and 142 WC.

Results: Compared to WC, SA had had lower BMI (28.5±6.1 kg/m² vs 32.2±7.4 kg/m²), height (159, IQR: 155–163 cm vs 165, IQR: 160–169 cm), less likely to smoke (1.3% vs 17.5%), had lighter babies (3226.5±588 g vs 3419.4±630 g) despite higher FPG (5.3±0.7 vs 5.1±0.76) and 2 hPG (8.1±2.1 vs 7.6±1.9) mmol/l (P<0.01 for all). At 28 weeks, abdominal circumference (AC) for SA and WC were similar (243.4±18 vs 247±16 vs 248.3±23, P=0.19). At 32 and 36 weeks, AC of SA was lower than WC despite adjustment for maternal BMI, height, glucose values at OGTT and offspring sex (P=0.03 and P=0.007). Head circumference (HC) was similar in both at all gestations. Both HC:AC ratio and femur length:AC ratio was higher in SA at 28 and 36 weeks after full adjustment (P<0.02).

Conclusions: Despite smaller overall size, SA showed evidence of abdominal adiposity in early foetal life. With progressing gestation there was a pattern of growth restriction with sparing of HC and lower AC compared to WC, signifying a possible adverse intra-uterine.