Association of Serum Ferritin with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Original Research Article Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of serum ferritin with GDM (n=60) and without GDM (n=60) .The age and body mass index of the participants along with their gestational age, gravidity and parity were harmonized. The serum ferritin levels and blood glucose were investigated. The results revealed that pregnant women with GDM had significantly higher level of serum ferritin than their healthy counterparts. Methods: This cross sectional analytical study was done in Department of Obstetrics &Gynaecology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), and Dhaka, Bangladesh during April 2019to march 2020. 120 pregnant womenbetween 18-35 years of age attending antenatal clinic in their 24-34 weeks ofpregnancy were included in this study. Among them 60 diagnosed case of GDM wereconsider as group A and rest 60 (without GDM) were consider as group B. Serumferritin concentration was measured in all of these patient. Results: The mean serum ferritin level was 121.1+17.7 ng/ml and 86.4±19.9 ng/ml ingroup A and group B respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05) between two groups. More than half (65.0%) patients had serum ferritinlevel >120 ng/ml in group A and 12(20.0%) in group B. Serum ferritin level >120ng/ml had 3.1 (95.0% C.L. 1.6 to 7.60) times significantly (p<0.05) increase to developed gestational diabetes mellitus.Conclusion: The serum ferritin was markedly higher in women with GDM than without GDM. Therefore, high serum ferritin can be regarded as a significant risk factor for the development of GDM.