Endocrine Abstracts

Aims: To investigate differences in maternal and foetal outcomes in pregnancy, where patients developed hypoglycaemia following the 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Method: A retrospective cohort study of 200 pregnancies attending the Antenatal Clinic at Tameside General Hospital between 2018 and 2022. Outcomes were compared between 4 groups: normal OGTT [G1; (n=39, 20%], hyperglycaemia following OGTT [G2; BG ≥5.6 mmol/litre or 2-hour OGTT ≥7.8 (n=41, 21%)], hypoglycaemia [G3; 2 hr OGTT 3.0-3.9 mmol/l (n=93, 47%)], or clinically significant hypoglycaemia [G4; 2 hr OGTT <3.0 mmol/l (n=27, 14%)]. Maternal BMI, foetal body-weight (FBW), neonatal complications, neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) stay and conversion to GDM were assessed.

Results: Maternal BMI was lower in G3 and G4 (27.3 kg/m² and 28.1 kg/m² respectively) compared to G1 (30.4 kg/m²) (P=0.02). NICU stay was more frequent in G3 (12%, n=11) and G4 (8%, n=2) compared to G1 (5%, n=2). Foetal complications occurred in 39% of G3 (n=36) and 44% of G4 (n=12) compared to 23% in G1 (n=9) and 22% in G2 (n=9). FBW was similar in G1 when compared to G3 and G4 (P=0.34). Of the 120 patients in G3 and G4, 25 patients self-monitored blood glucose for two weeks. 28% (n=7) subsequently developed GDM.

Conclusion: Higher rates of NICU stay and foetal complications were seen in both hypoglycaemic groups. In patients with hypoglycaemia following OGTT there is evidence to support monitoring BG as a proportion were later diagnosed with GDM.