Cited by 274Gestational Diabetes Research and ManagementDiabetes Management and ResearchDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

A pragmatic, randomized clinical trial of gestational diabetes screening

Open access
Hillier, Teresa A., Pedula, Kathryn L., Ogasawara, Keith K., Vesco, Kimberly K., Oshiro, Caryn E.S., Lubarsky, Suzanne L., Van Marter, Jan·2021·New England Journal of Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus is common and is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Although experts recommend universal screening for gestational diabetes, consensus is lacking about which of two recommended screening approaches should be used. METHODS: We performed a pragmatic, randomized trial comparing one-step screening (i.e., a glucose-tolerance test in which the blood glucose level was obtained after the oral administration of a 75-g glucose load in the fasting state) with two-step screening (a glucose challenge test in which the blood glucose level was obtained after the oral administration of a 50-g glucose load in the nonfasting state, followed, if positive, by an oral glucose-tolerance test with a 100-g glucose load in the fasting state) in all pregnant women who received care in two health systems. Guidelines for the treatment of gestational diabetes were consistent with the two screening approaches. The primary outcomes were a diagnosis of gestational diabetes, large-for-gestational-age infants, a perinatal composite outcome (stillbirth, neonatal death, shoulder dystocia, bone fracture, or any arm or hand nerve palsy related to birth injury), gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, and primary cesarean section. RESULTS: A total of 23,792 women underwent randomization; women with more than one pregnancy during the trial could have been assigned to more than one type of screening. A total of 66% of the women in the one-step group and 92% of those in the two-step group adhered to the assigned screening. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed in 16.5% of the women assigned to the one-step approach and in 8.5% of those assigned to the two-step approach (unadjusted relative risk, 1.94; 97.5% confidence interval [CI], 1.79 to 2.11). In intention-to-treat analyses, the respective incidences of the other primary outcomes were as follows: large-for-gestational-age infants, 8.9% and 9.2% (relative risk, 0.95; 97.5% CI, 0.87 to 1.05); perinatal composite outcome, 3.1% and 3.0% (relative risk, 1.04; 97.5% CI, 0.88 to 1.23); gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, 13.6% and 13.5% (relative risk, 1.00; 97.5% CI, 0.93 to 1.08); and primary cesarean section, 24.0% and 24.6% (relative risk, 0.98; 97.5% CI, 0.93 to 1.02). The results were materially unchanged in intention-to-treat analyses with inverse probability weighting to account for differential adherence to the screening approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Despite more diagnoses of gestational diabetes with the one-step approach than with the two-step approach, there were no significant between-group differences in the risks of the primary outcomes relating to perinatal and maternal complications. (Funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; ScreenR2GDM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02266758.).

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Crossref · 10.1056/nejmoa2026028

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  • The HAPO study showed that increasing glycemia is associated with more neonatal adverse outcomes such as macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycemia, and cesarean delivery.

    “The HAPO study showed that increasing glycemia is associated with increased neonatal adverse outcomes such as macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycemia, and cesarean delivery.64,115–119”

    From American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline: Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan-2022 Update. (2022) · cites this paper as [64]

    The Introduction links gestational diabetes with fetal overgrowth and cesarean delivery, and Methods > Study Outcomes cites the HAPO study as prior research for large-for-gestational-age infants and primary cesarean section (pages unavailable). Our copy does not state that HAPO found a graded association with increasing glycemia or link HAPO to neonatal hypoglycemia. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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  • Even among women without GDM as currently defined, maternal glucose concentration during pregnancy has a linear association with newborn weight, large-for-gestational-age rates, and cesarean delivery.

    “The HAPO study confirmed findings in Pima Indians1409 that, even among offspring of women without GDM as it is currently defined, there is a linear association between maternal glucose concentration during pregnancy and newborn weight, rates of large-for-gestational-age, and cesarean delivery.64,1418–1421”

    From American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline: Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan-2022 Update. (2022) · cites this paper as [64]

    The Introduction (page not provided) states that maternal hyperglycemia has a clear linear relationship with maternal and perinatal outcomes, citing the HAPO study. It does not specify that this relationship holds among women without GDM, establish it separately for newborn weight, large-for-gestational-age rates and cesarean delivery, or describe confirmation of findings in Pima Indians. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • In Hillier et al., a similar proportion of women diagnosed with GDM using the two approaches required medication to manage glucose levels during pregnancy (42.6% for one-step and 45.5% for two-step), meaning that more women who underwent the one-step approach received treatment to manage glucose during pregnancy.

    “A similar proportion that were diagnosed with GDM using the two approaches required medication to manage glucose levels during pregnancy (42.6% [n=783] for one-step and 45.5% [n=431] for two-step), meaning that more women who underwent the one-step approach received treatment to manage glucose during pregnancy.”

    From Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnostic Approaches and Maternal-Offspring Complications (2022) · cites this paper as [21]

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  • Taken together, the RCTs suggest a significant increase in both GDM incidence and health care utilization when using the one-step approach suggested by the IADPSG, with no commensurate improvement in adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to the two-step approach.

    “Taken together, these RCTs suggest a significant increase in both GDM incidence and health care utilization when using the one-step approach suggested by the IADPSG, with no commensurate improvement in adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to the two-step approach (Table 2).”

    From Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnostic Approaches and Maternal-Offspring Complications (2022) · cites this paper as [21]

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  • In that cohort study, approximately 25% of those assigned to the 1-step group went through the 2-step process and the caregivers were not blinded to assignment of the participants.

    “Unfortunately, approximately 25% of those assigned to the 1-step group went through the 2-step process and the caregivers were not blinded to assignment of the participants.”

    From Guidelines and Recommendations for Laboratory Analysis in the Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes Mellitus (2023) · cites this paper as [261]

    Methods (Randomization; page unavailable) states that providers could not be blinded, and Methods (Statistical Methods; page unavailable) says some participants assigned to 1-step screening received 2-step screening. Results (Trial Population; page unavailable) reports 66% adherence in the 1-step arm, but does not establish that approximately 25% specifically underwent 2-step screening. The paper describes a randomized trial, not a cohort study. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [22]Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC). Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press; 2009. 20669500

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Authors
Hillier, T. A., Pedula, K. L., Ogasawara, K. K., Vesco, K. K., Oshiro, C. E. S., Lubarsky, S. L., & Van Marter, J.
Affiliations
  • Kaiser Permanente (US)
  • From the Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest (T.A.H., K.L.P., K.K.V., J.V.M.), and the Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwest Permanente, Kaiser Permanente (S.L.L.), Portland, Oregon; and the Center for Integrated Health Care Research (T.A.H., C.E.S.O.) and the Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (K.K.O.), Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (K.L.P., K.K.O.), Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Honolulu.
Venue
New England Journal of Medicine
Published
2021-03-11
Volume
384
Issue
10
Pages
895-904
ISSN
  • 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-4406
OpenAlex
W3135372304
Cited by
270
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 65 · 2021: 40
FWCI
46.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD074794)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
Keywords
gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes screening, two-stage screening, glucose challenge test, oral glucose tolerance test, large for gestational age, perinatal outcomes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean section, screening adherence, maternal outcomes, birth trauma, shoulder dystocia, nerve palsy
MeSH terms
Adult, Blood Glucose, Female, Fetal Macrosomia, Glucose Tolerance Test, Humans, Hyperglycemia, Mass Screening, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Incidence, Diabetes, Gestational

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