The predictive value of gestational diabetes mellitus of ultrasound measurement of abdominal fat thickness in pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prognostic value of abdominal fat thickness measured by ultrasound in predicting the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: A study was conducted on 246 pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital and the Department of Obstetrics, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. Abdominal fat thickness was measured between 11 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days of gestation. The participants were subsequently monitored and underwent screening tests for GDM. Results: The majority of the study participants were of reproductive age (25-34 years), accounting for 67.48%. Most pregnant women had a normal body mass index (BMI) (62.6%), while 16.26% were overweight or obese. Pregnant women with an abdominal fat thickness of ≥ 20 mm had a 10.67 times higher risk of developing GDM compared to those with < 20 mm (OR = 10.67; 95% CI: 4.38 – 26; p < 0.01). At the cut-off point of 20 mm, first-trimester abdominal fat thickness had a predictive value for GDM with a sensitivity of 63.64%, specificity of 85.92%, and a predictive value of 82.93%, with an AUC of 0.75 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Ultrasound-measured abdominal fat thickness is an easily obtainable parameter that may serve as a potential indicator, along with other factors, for the early prediction of GDM.