Implementation of In-Hospital Postpartum Glucose Tolerance Testing for People With Gestational Diabetes [ID: 1375592]

INTRODUCTION: The 2-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) performed during delivery hospitalization is as predictive of postpartum dysglycemia as the 4- to 12-week test. Our objective was to assess test uptake as part of routine care rather than a research protocol. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at a high volume center. The in-hospital (“early”) GTT began being offered in early 2021 as postpartum glucose screening option, and we collected 6 months of postimplementation data. Adherence to the GTT was compared between those who elected an early GTT versus those who deferred testing. Descriptive characteristics including demographics, care team characteristics, and postpartum testing/visit attendance were compared between those who received an early GTT and those who did not. Institutional review board approval was waived. RESULTS: Six hundred eighty-one patients with GDM delivered during the study period, and 340 (50%) received the early GTT. Of those who had an early GTT ordered (n=408), 83.3% completed the test. Among those who did not receive an early GTT, only 104 (30.5%) completed any postpartum glucose testing. There were significant differences in demographic characteristics among those who completed the early GTT compared to those who did not. When postpartum visit attendance was assessed, those who completed an early GTT had a lower rate of attendance compared to those who deferred (75.6% versus 91.5%, P <.01). CONCLUSION: When an early GTT is offered in clinical practice, adherence rates are still significantly higher than when the test is deferred until the postpartum visit.