International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802002016081017241724EN20160810<strong>Background:</strong> There is a long lasting dilemma over the ideal screening and diagnostic method<br />in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Even though universal screening is commonly practiced,<br />selective screening based on risk factors is also practiced in some center. The aim of this<br />study is to evaluate the most appropriate method to screen GDM in high‑risk pregnant women<br />in Sri Lanka.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> This study was a clinic‑based, cross‑sectional study conducted in a tertiary referral<br />center, Sri Lanka. All women underwent 75 g oral glucose tolerance test at 24&ndash;28 weeks<br />of gestation. Diagnosis of GDM was made according to the International Association of the<br />Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) and World Health Organization (WHO)<br />criteria.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> With universal screening using IADPSG criteria, 23.2% (105/452) were found to have<br />GDM and with risk factor‑based screening 20.1% (91/452) were detected to have GDM. The<br />prevalence of GDM dropped to 18.1% when GDM was diagnosed using the WHO criteria with<br />universal screening approach. It was further dropped to 15.7% when the WHO criteria were used<br />along with risk factors‑based screening approach.<br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The IADPSG criteria labeled considerably higher number of women as having<br />GDM compared to the WHO criteria. With regards to the screening methods, the risk‑based<br />screening had a lower detection rate of GDM; however, it reduced the necessity of screening of<br />women by around 20%.<br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Gestational diabetes mellitus, International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy<br />Study Groups criteria, universal and selective screening, World Health Organization criteriahttp://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1724http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1724/2013