26 Jun 2024 • Early pregnancy HbA1c is a simple and effective screening test for gestational diabetes compared to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) that helps in early detection and intervention of gestational diabetes.

• The STRiDE study conducted in India, Kenya, and the UK assessed the efficacy of early pregnancy HbA1c in predicting gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks of gestation. The study enrolled 3070 participants in India, 4104 in Kenya, and 4320 from the UK.

• The prevalence of gestational diabetes by OGTT was 19.2% in India, 3.0% in Kenya, and 14.5% in the UK. Early pregnancy HbA1c was independently associated with the incidence of gestational diabetes, and combining it with age, BMI, and family history of diabetes improved prediction accuracy. A population-specific, two-threshold screening strategy using the composite risk score could reduce the need for OGTTs by 50-64%.

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