Risk Factors of Prolonged Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy

Abstract

Background

Determination of the risk factors associated with prolonged nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) helps to develop prevention strategies. However, there is a lack of studies regarding risk factors of prolonged NVP. Thus, the potential risk factors of prolonged moderate and severe NVP were examined.

Methods

This is a retrospective study among pregnant women in South of China. The Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) scale was used to evaluate NVP. Onset before 12 weeks and persistence after 20 weeks of gestation were defined as prolonged NVP. Data on NVP and other variables were collected by standard questionnaires and medical records.

Results

A finally sample of 1739 participants were analyzed. The incidence of prolonged moderate and severe NVP was 42.1% and 1.1%, respectively. Among those with NVP, the increased risk of prolonged moderate NVP was associated with lower gestational age (OR = 0.95 per SD increase, 95% CI=0.93–0.97), being a housewife (OR = 1.30, 95% CI=1.02–1.65), pre-pregnant longer sedentary time (OR = 2.02, 95% CI=1.16–1.83), pre-pregnant lower exercise frequency (OR = 1.84, 95% CI=1.20–2.82), and history of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases (OR = 2.21, 95% CI=1.61–3.03). Persons who were a housewife (OR = 6.39, 95% CI=1.90–21.47), with pre-pregnant high frequent (always) cold drinking (OR=11.12, 95% CI=1.24–100.73), and had a history of GI diseases (OR=10.10, 95% CI=2.63–38.86) were more likely to experience prolonged severe NVP.

Conclusion

The results of the present study suggested that pregnant women unemployed, with lower gestational age, pre-pregnant longer sedentary time, less exercise, high frequent (always) cold drinking and history of GI diseases had a higher risk of prolonged NVP and should be taken more care.

Keywords:

• prolonged nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
• risk factors
• pregnant women
• retrospective analysis

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all of the women for participating in this study and all staff for helping collect data.

Data Sharing Statement

Available upon request to the first author.

Ethical Approval

The study is approved by Human Subjects Committee of the Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University (FSFY-MEC-2017-056) and all methods are performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent to Participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Author Contributions

Huishan Zhang analyzed the data, drafted the paper and responsible for revisions.

Shuzhen Wu analyzed the data and interpreted the results.

Jingping Feng collected data and reviewed the paper.

Zhengping Liu designed the project and reviewed the paper.

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. No funder had influence on the design, data collecting, analysis or interpretation of the study.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding for the study.