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Prevalence of diabetes mellitus among pregnant women receiving health services at the Puerto Rico University Hospital, Puerto Rico, 1997-1998.

OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence and to describe the clinical characteristics of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women receiving health care services at the Puerto Rico University Hospital from 1997 to 1998.


METHODS
The study design was cross-sectional. All medical records available of pregnant women diagnosed with GDM were retrospectively reviewed. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions and summary measures (mean and standard deviation) were used. Annual and 18-month period prevalences of GDM were calculated. Fisher's exact test was used to compare proportions.


RESULTS
A total of 78 medical records were available during the 18-month study period (June 1997 to December 1998). The estimated prevalence of GDM was 2% for the total study period (18-month) as well as for the year 1998. The highest proportion (52.3%) of GDM cases was found in the 30 years or less age group. Forty-eight percent had a body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 m/kg2 (obese) before pregnancy; however, the weight gained during the last pregnancy was higher than 15 pounds (57%). Sixty-four percent of the cases had a family history of diabetes, meanwhile, 34.7% reported a history of GDM during previous pregnancies. During the first prenatal visit, 80.5% reflected glucose levels higher than 110 mg/ml. Preeclampsia (6.4%) and macrosomia (14%) were the most frequent complications for the mother and the fetus, respectively.


DISCUSSION
More epidemiological studies about GMD in Puerto Rico need to be performed to better describe the prevalence of the condition in the island.