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

Journal of Perinatology volume 26, pages 328–332 (2006)Cite this article

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Ms Jennifer Lambert, previously with the University of California, San Diego, for kindly supplying the data necessary for this study to be performed, and Ms Maribeth Inturrisi, Coordinator and RN Educator Consultant for the California Diabetes and Pregnancy Program, for input on the manuscript. Analyses, interpretations, and conclusions are by the authors of this study and not by Ms Lambert, Ms Inturrisi, the California Department of Health Services, Maternal Child Health Branch, or the California Diabetes and Pregnancy Program Data System.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA, USA

    J H Chung, K J Voss, D A Wing, E J D Henderson & C A Major

  2. Women's Hospital, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, USA

    J H Chung

  3. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    A B Caughey

Authors
  1. J H Chung
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  2. K J Voss
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  3. A B Caughey
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  4. D A Wing
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  5. E J D Henderson
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  6. C A Major
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J H Chung.

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Chung, J., Voss, K., Caughey, A. et al. Role of patient education level in predicting macrosomia among women with gestational diabetes mellitus. J Perinatol 26, 328–332 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211512

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