Diabetogenic Risk In Low-income Pregnant Women from João Pessoa – Paraíba – Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARY Objective: to determine the frequency of the gestations considered of low risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), witch affect about 2 to 3% of the obstetric population, through the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and the ADA (1997) risk factors. Material and Methods: The sample was constituted of 394 low-income pregnant women attended by the health public system of the João Pessoa City (Paraíba). On the first prenatal consultation, the pregnant women were submitted to the interview and the FPG was determined. Results: The low risk factors prevailed in all the levels, especially the maternal age, for the reason that 63% of the pregnant women were less than 25 years old. The negative screening was observed in 87% of the pregnant women that had FPG below the cut-off values in different phases of the gestation. The epidemiological characteristics of the sample are compatible with the selective screen. However, there is a probability (3-4%) that ADA (1997) pregnant women of low risk can still develop GDM. Conclusion: The FPG could be used to improve the GDM screen, reducing the critical value to 90mg/dl. Exceeded the critical glucose, the recommended test is the overload with 75g of oral glucose, being defined the diagnosis for values ³140 mg/dl two hours after. Descriptors Diabetes Mellitus. Gestational Diabetes. Risk Factors.