Original Article

Journal of Perinatology (2006) 26, 328–332. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211512; published online 27 April 2006

Role of patient education level in predicting macrosomia among women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Financial Support: None.

J H Chung1,2, K J Voss1, A B Caughey3, D A Wing1, E J D Henderson1 and C A Major1

  1. 1Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA, USA
  2. 2Women's Hospital, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, USA
  3. 3Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

Correspondence: Dr JH Chung, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCI Medical Center, 101 the City Drive, Building 56, Room 800, Orange, CA 92868, USA. E-mail: judithc@uci.edu

Received 30 January 2006; Revised 27 March 2006; Accepted 30 March 2006; Published online 27 April 2006.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

To evaluate the role of education level in predicting the risk of macrosomia among women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Study design:

 

Women with gestational diabetes, who were referred to the California Diabetes and Pregnancy Sweet Success Program between June 2001 and December 2002, were included in the study. Multiple logistic regression was used estimate the risk of macrosomia, defined as a birth weight >4000 g.

Results:

 

Compared to college-educated women, high school- and middle school-educated women were 21% (relative risk (RR), 1.21; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.01–1.44) and 35% (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.09–1.70) more likely to deliver a macrosomic infant, respectively.

Conclusion:

 

Gestational diabetics with a lower level of educational attainment appear to have an increased risk of macrosomia. Future studies are necessary to determine whether this finding reflects a variation in adherence to recommended treatments by education/literacy level, or if it is a surrogate marker for intrinsic, biological differences or differences in lifestyle.

Keywords:

gestational diabetes mellitus, macrosomia, education level

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