ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine the frequency of positive cases in 1 - step approach versus 2-step approach for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unit I, Services Hospital, Lahore over a period of 6 months from 15-01-2017 to 15-07-2017. 177 pregnant patients were included in this study. All patients under went both 1-step approach and 2-step approach with a gap of one week. Frequency of positive cases were recorded on both approaches. Data was analyzed in SPSS version 20.0. Quantitative data like age, body mass index (BMI) and gestational age were presented in the form of mean and standard deviation. Qualitative data like parity and positive cases by 1 and 2-step approach was presented in the form of frequency and percentage.

Results: Age of patient ranged from 21 to 40 years. Mean age (years) was 29.01 ±3.30, mean BMI 27.20 ±1.70 Kg/m² and mean gestational age was 28.04 ±1.85 weeks. Majority (83.6 %) of the patients were of ≤ 2 parity. Positive cases by 1 - step approach was seen in 11.3% patients versus 5.1 % by 2-step approach.

Conclusions: Careful consideration should be given to an internationally recommended method of universal screening for GDM which minimizes the burden and cost for individual women and the healthcare system, yet provides diagnostic efficacy. The one-step method accomplished this better than the two-step method.

Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus, 1 - step approach, 2 -step approach, Pregnancy