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Cohort studyInternational journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026

First-trimester maternal abdominal subcutaneous and perirenal fat thickness and early identification of gestational diabetes: A prospective cohort study.

Giulia Palla, Maria M Montt-Guevara, Tiziana Fidecicchi … Tommaso Simoncini

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Obstetrics & GynecologyCohort study

Adding abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness improves gestational diabetes detection sensitivity.

First-trimester maternal abdominal subcutaneous and perirenal fat thickness and early identification of gestational diabetes: A prospective cohort study.

Giulia Palla et al. · International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026

Purpose

To evaluate whether first-trimester abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness (ASFT) and renal fat thickness (RFT) provide incremental value for early identification of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their association with obstetric complications.

Methods

This prospective observational cohort study included 268 singleton pregnancies undergoing first-trimester aneuploidy screening (11-13 +6 weeks) at the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Italy (2019-2020).

n = 268 singleton pregnancies

95.3%

Results

adding abdominal fat thickness improved the correct identification of gestational diabetes

n = 268 singleton pregnancies

More results

GDM developed in 23.9% of the cohort.

Women with GDM had higher BMI, first-trimester glycemia, upper and lower ASFT (all P < 0.001), and RFT (P < 0.01).

After adjustment for BMI, ASFT-but not RFT-remained associated with GDM.

More results

A composite ASFT variable based on predefined cutoffs remained independently associated with GDM (odds ratio [OR] 2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-4.72; P = 0.016).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

First-trimester ASFT measurement was independently associated with GDM risk and showed incremental predictive value beyond conventional clinical risk factors.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings support further investigation of ultrasound markers of maternal adiposity for early risk assessment in pregnancy.

Post

First-trimester maternal abdominal subcutaneous and perirenal fat thickness and early identification of gestational diabetes: A prospective cohort study.

Adding abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness improves gestational diabetes detection sensitivity.

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