Association of lipid accumulation product with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: a hospital based study

Abstract

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is an emerging problem which affects a large number of pregnant women in India. Women with GDM have been shown to have abnormal lipid profiles with higher serum triacylglycerol concentrations but lower LDL levels. Early detection reduces adverse maternal and foetal outcome. The Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) is an index of fat distribution and assessment which can be easily measured in an outpatient setup. Methods: This study was a hospital based case control study. Cases were 30 pregnant women, newly diagnosed with GDM in their 2nd trimester while controls were 30 apparently healthy pregnant women without risk factors for GDM. Lipid accumulation product (LAP) was computed by multiplying a sex-specific estimate of waist circumference and the fasting triglyceride concentration, LAP = (WC [cm] - 58) x TGL [mmol/L]. Result: The mean age of patients with GDM was higher when compared to controls. (28.17 ± 3.34 vs 24.40 ± 3.07, p < 0.0001) The lipid profile showed a significantly higher value of serum triglycerides among cases while the differences in HDL were not statistically significant. Lipid accumulation product (LAP) in GDM patients was found to be significantly elevated when compared to controls. (133.43 ± 64.02 vs 62.89 ± 30.68, p < 0.0001) Conclusion: Calculation of LAP can be done to identify the degree of risk for developing GDM. So LAP can possibly serve as in future as a screening tool for the diagnosis of GDM in an outpatient setting in resource poor settings. DOI: 10.21276/AWCH.1461