Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial

Abstract Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is strongly associated with significant adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes that have lifelong consequences. Treatment for women with GDM aims to normalise maternal blood glucose concentrations to reduce these adverse health risks. T...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Caroline A. Crowther, Jane M. Alsweiler, Ruth Hughes, Julie Brown, for the Target Study Group
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-10-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-2060-2
_version_ 1811206122157113344
author Caroline A. Crowther
Jane M. Alsweiler
Ruth Hughes
Julie Brown
for the Target Study Group
author_facet Caroline A. Crowther
Jane M. Alsweiler
Ruth Hughes
Julie Brown
for the Target Study Group
author_sort Caroline A. Crowther
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is strongly associated with significant adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes that have lifelong consequences. Treatment for women with GDM aims to normalise maternal blood glucose concentrations to reduce these adverse health risks. Target recommendations for glycaemic control in women with GDM vary amongst international organisations. All their recommendations rely on consensus, as there have been no published randomised trials that compare different intensities of glucose control in women with GDM. The TARGET Trial aims to determine whether tighter targets for glycaemic control in women with GDM compared with less tight targets, reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity without adverse health consequences. Methods/design Using a stepped wedge, cluster randomised trial the 10 participating hospitals will be randomised to the timing of the change from the less tight to the tighter glycaemic target period. During the less tight target period, all health professionals at the hospital will aim to use the less tight glycaemic targets for treatment of women with GDM (fasting plasma glucose < 5.5 mmol/L; 1 h postprandial < 8.0 mmol/L; 2 h postprandial < 7.0 mmol/L). During the tighter target period all health professionals at the hospital will aim to use the tighter glycaemic targets for treatment of women with GDM (fasting plasma glucose ≤5.0 mmol/L, 1 h postprandial ≤7.4 mmol/L; 2 h postprandial ≤6.7 mmol/L). The primary study outcome is large for gestational age infant (birth weight > 90th centile). A sample size of 1080 participants will detect a treatment difference of 6% in the proportion of large for gestational age babies from 13% with less tight glycaemic targets to 7% with tighter targets, assuming an intra-cluster correlation coefficient of 0.05. Discussion The TARGET Trial will provide high-level evidence of direct relevance for clinical practice. If tighter treatment targets for women with GDM clearly result in significantly fewer large for gestational age infants and less adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes then they should be recommended for women with GDM. This would be of great importance to these women, their children, health services and communities. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry - ACTRN 12615000282583.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T03:42:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ce447c7677114f7ca31ebbb8ddbe909f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2393
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T03:42:31Z
publishDate 2018-10-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
spelling doaj.art-ce447c7677114f7ca31ebbb8ddbe909f2022-12-22T03:49:15ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932018-10-011811610.1186/s12884-018-2060-2Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trialCaroline A. Crowther0Jane M. Alsweiler1Ruth Hughes2Julie Brown3for the Target Study GroupLiggins Institute, The University of AucklandNewborn Services, Auckland City HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Christchurch Women’s Hospital, University of OtagoLiggins Institute, The University of AucklandAbstract Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is strongly associated with significant adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes that have lifelong consequences. Treatment for women with GDM aims to normalise maternal blood glucose concentrations to reduce these adverse health risks. Target recommendations for glycaemic control in women with GDM vary amongst international organisations. All their recommendations rely on consensus, as there have been no published randomised trials that compare different intensities of glucose control in women with GDM. The TARGET Trial aims to determine whether tighter targets for glycaemic control in women with GDM compared with less tight targets, reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity without adverse health consequences. Methods/design Using a stepped wedge, cluster randomised trial the 10 participating hospitals will be randomised to the timing of the change from the less tight to the tighter glycaemic target period. During the less tight target period, all health professionals at the hospital will aim to use the less tight glycaemic targets for treatment of women with GDM (fasting plasma glucose < 5.5 mmol/L; 1 h postprandial < 8.0 mmol/L; 2 h postprandial < 7.0 mmol/L). During the tighter target period all health professionals at the hospital will aim to use the tighter glycaemic targets for treatment of women with GDM (fasting plasma glucose ≤5.0 mmol/L, 1 h postprandial ≤7.4 mmol/L; 2 h postprandial ≤6.7 mmol/L). The primary study outcome is large for gestational age infant (birth weight > 90th centile). A sample size of 1080 participants will detect a treatment difference of 6% in the proportion of large for gestational age babies from 13% with less tight glycaemic targets to 7% with tighter targets, assuming an intra-cluster correlation coefficient of 0.05. Discussion The TARGET Trial will provide high-level evidence of direct relevance for clinical practice. If tighter treatment targets for women with GDM clearly result in significantly fewer large for gestational age infants and less adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes then they should be recommended for women with GDM. This would be of great importance to these women, their children, health services and communities. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry - ACTRN 12615000282583.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-2060-2Gestational diabetes mellitusMaternal glycaemic targetsLarge for gestational ageStepped wedged cluster randomised trial
spellingShingle Caroline A. Crowther
Jane M. Alsweiler
Ruth Hughes
Julie Brown
for the Target Study Group
Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Maternal glycaemic targets
Large for gestational age
Stepped wedged cluster randomised trial
title Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial
title_full Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial
title_fullStr Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial
title_full_unstemmed Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial
title_short Tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity? (TARGET): study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial
title_sort tight or less tight glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity target study protocol for a stepped wedge randomised trial
topic Gestational diabetes mellitus
Maternal glycaemic targets
Large for gestational age
Stepped wedged cluster randomised trial
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-2060-2
work_keys_str_mv AT carolineacrowther tightorlesstightglycaemictargetsforwomenwithgestationaldiabetesmellitusforreducingmaternalandperinatalmorbiditytargetstudyprotocolforasteppedwedgerandomisedtrial
AT janemalsweiler tightorlesstightglycaemictargetsforwomenwithgestationaldiabetesmellitusforreducingmaternalandperinatalmorbiditytargetstudyprotocolforasteppedwedgerandomisedtrial
AT ruthhughes tightorlesstightglycaemictargetsforwomenwithgestationaldiabetesmellitusforreducingmaternalandperinatalmorbiditytargetstudyprotocolforasteppedwedgerandomisedtrial
AT juliebrown tightorlesstightglycaemictargetsforwomenwithgestationaldiabetesmellitusforreducingmaternalandperinatalmorbiditytargetstudyprotocolforasteppedwedgerandomisedtrial
AT forthetargetstudygroup tightorlesstightglycaemictargetsforwomenwithgestationaldiabetesmellitusforreducingmaternalandperinatalmorbiditytargetstudyprotocolforasteppedwedgerandomisedtrial