Abstract

Background: The present study investigated the possible association between elevated maternal glycated haemoglobin levels (HbA1c%) and infants with low birth weight (LBW).
Methods: This case-control study included 1,142 women admitted to three public hospitals in the northeast region of Brazil. The participants were classified based on their glycaemic levels, using glycated haemoglobin measurement: Group 1 (HbA1c% <5.6%), Group 2 (HbA1c% ≥ 5.6% and <6.5%), Group 3 (HbA1c% ≥ 6.5% and <7.0%) and Group 4 (HbA1c% ≥ 7.0%). The main association was assessed via a logistic regression, considering Group 1 (HbA1c <5.6%) as the reference.
Results: No association between glycated haemoglobin levels and LBW for any of the groups, even after adjustment for the following confounders: maternal age, arterial hypertension, smoking during pregnancy, primiparity, body mass index before pregnancy, number of prenatal care visits, and maternal occupation during pregnancy (Group 2 - ORadjusted: 0.83 IC95%: 0.59-1.16; Group 3-ORadjusted: 0.27 IC95%: 0.34-1.26; Group 4- ORadjusted: 2.39 IC95%: 0.70-8.19)
Conclusion: These results showed that elevated maternal glycated hemoglobin levels are not a risk factor for low birth weight.

Keywords: Low birth weight neonate; Epidemiology; Diabetes mellitus; Glycated haemoglobin