Prevalence, clinical profile, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of hyperglycemia in pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital in South India

Background: Hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) is an umbrella term for any degree of carbohydrate intolerance in pregnancy which carries risk of transgenerational transfer of metabolic disorders. The present observational study was carried out to know the prevalence, clinical profile, and maternal and perinatal outcome in different categories of HIP, in a South Indian setup. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out for 1 year at KAHER's Dr Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital, Belagavi in South India. The HIP was diagnosed by Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of India criteria and further categorized into gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational glucose intolerance (GGI), and diabetes in pregnancy (DIP). The prevalence, clinical profile, and maternal and perinatal outcome were analyzed in three groups. Results: The prevalence of HIP among pregnant population was found to be 17.47% in 1 year. 222 women (75.5%) had GDM, followed by 49 (17%) and 23 women (8%) presented with GGI and DIP, respectively. The maternal outcomes among HIP were cesarean delivery 230 (78.2), preterm labor 53 (18.02%), preeclampsia 50 (17.01%), premature rupture of membranes 34 (11.56%), and infections 33 (11.22%). The perinatal outcome recorded were neonatal intensive care unit admissions in 107 neonates (36.39%), hyperbilirubinemia in 44 neonates (15%), hypoglycemia in 79 neonates (26.8%), respiratory distress syndrome in 43 neonates (14.46%), and macrosomia in 44 fetuses (15%). Conclusion: Degree of hyperglycemia affects pregnancy outcomes. Continued surveillance of women in preconceptional, antenatal, and postnatal period ensures early diagnosis and management of glucose intolerance and helps in delaying the onset of overt diabetes.