Comparison of Fasting Insulin Levels and Insulin Resistance Indices in Preeclamptic and Normotensive Pregnant Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy-specific disorder, is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality. Women with PE exhibit significant hyperinsulinemia compared to normotensive women. Aim: To determine the levels of Fasting plasma Insulin (FI) and Insulin Resistance (IR) in women with PE and normotensive women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Hindu Rao Hospital and North DMC Medical College, New Delhi, India from November 2020 to September 2021. Total 100 pregnant women (50 normotensive controls and 50 PE cases) were recruited. An oral glucose tolerance test with 75 grams of glucose was administered. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), FI, and IR indices were calculated. Continuous variables of the case and control groups were compared using the t-test, and categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) level in the normotensive group was 81.52±2.95 mg/dL, while it was 83.4±3.77 mg/dL in the PE group (p-value 0.007). The mean FI level in the normotensive group was 5.06±2.14 µunits/mL, compared to 27.41±3.09 µunits/mL in the PE group (p-value 0.001). The increase in mean FI level was statistically significant when Blood Pressure (BP) was ≥160/110 mmHg, with liver enzymes ≥80 IU/L, or with a platelet count ≤100,000/mL. The Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) and Fast Glucose-to-Insulin Ratio (FGIR) were lower in the case group (p-value <0.001). Log FI was significantly higher in cases (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The FI levels were significantly increased in PE. FI and IR indices may serve as biomarkers of PE.