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Emergency Department Burden of Hyperemesis Gravidarum 2006-2014

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Background: Hyperemesis gravidarum is the most severe form of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, potentially affecting both maternal and pregnancy health. Hyperemesis gravidarum often results in emergency department visits, although the exact frequency and costs associated with these visits have not been well studied. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the trends in hyperemesis gravidarum emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, and the associated costs between 2006 and 2014. Study design: Patients were identified from the 2006 and 2014 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database files using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes. Patients with a primary diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, and all nondelivery pregnancy-related diagnoses (all antepartum visits) were identified. All groups were analyzed; trends in demographics, number of emergency department visits, and visit costs were compared. Costs were inflation-adjusted to 2021 US dollars. Results: Emergency department visits for hyperemesis gravidarum increased by 28% from 2006 to 2014; however, the proportion of those who were subsequently admitted to the hospital decreased. The average cost of an emergency department visit for hyperemesis gravidarum increased by 65% ($2156 to $3549), as opposed to an increase of 60% for all antepartum visits ($2218 to $3543). The aggregate cost for all hyperemesis gravidarum visits increased by 110% ($383,681,346 to $806,696,513) from 2006 to 2014, which was similar to the increase observed for all antepartum emergency department visits. Conclusion: From 2006 to 2014, emergency department visits for hyperemesis gravidarum increased by 28%, with associated costs increasing by 110%, whereas the number of admissions from the emergency department for hyperemesis gravidarum decreased by 42%.
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Emergency department burden of hyperemesis
gravidarum in the United States from 2006 to 2014
Grace Geeganage, BA; Johanna Iturrino, MD; Scott A. Shainker, DO, MS; Sarah Ballou, PhD; Vikram Rangan, MD;
Judy Nee, MD
BACKGROUND: Hyperemesis gravidarum is the most severe form of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, potentially affecting both maternal
and pregnancy health. Hyperemesis gravidarum often results in emergency department visits, although the exact frequency and costs associated
with these visits have not been well studied.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the trends in hyperemesis gravidarum emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, and the
associated costs between 2006 and 2014.
STUDY DESIGN: Patients were identied from the 2006 and 2014 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database les using Interna-
tional Classication of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes. Patients with a primary diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum, nausea and vomit-
ing of pregnancy, and all nondelivery pregnancy-related diagnoses (all antepartum visits) were identied. All groups were analyzed; trends in
demographics, number of emergency department visits, and visit costs were compared. Costs were ination-adjusted to 2021 US dollars.
RESULTS: Emergency department visits for hyperemesis gravidarum increased by 28% from 2006 to 2014; however, the proportion of those
who were subsequently admitted to the hospital decreased. The average cost of an emergency department visit for hyperemesis gravidarum
increased by 65% ($2156 to $3549), as opposed to an increase of 60% for all antepartum visits ($2218 to $3543). The aggregate cost for all
hyperemesis gravidarum visits increased by 110% ($383,681,346 to $806,696,513) from 2006 to 2014, which was similar to the increase
observed for all antepartum emergency department visits.
CONCLUSION: From 2006 to 2014, emergency department visits for hyperemesis gravidarum increased by 28%, with associated costs
increasing by 110%, whereas the number of admissions from the emergency department for hyperemesis gravidarum decreased by 42%.
Key words: healthcare utilization, medical economics, Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
Introduction
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is the
most disruptive and severe form of nau-
sea and vomiting of pregnancy
(NVP).
1,2
HG is one of the most com-
mon indications for hospital admission
during early pregnancy,
3,4
and is esti-
mated to occur in 0.5%
5
to 1.2% of
pregnant patients.
6
HG is typically accompanied by loss
of >5% of prepregnancy weight and
inadequate nutrition.
1,2
HG can also
have a profound effect on mental
health, including posttraumatic stress
symptoms, and thoughts and actions of
delaying or avoiding another preg-
nancy.
79
Pregnancies complicated by
HG are associated with higher antepar-
tum and total pregnancy costs; a 2005
meta-analysis reported the average total
cost over the pregnancy as $7499 with-
out HG and $17,938 with HG (reported
in 2005 US dollars).
5
Increased risk of HG is associated
with younger age, multiple gestations,
and certain preexisting conditions such
as hyperthyroidism, psychiatric illness,
diabetes mellitus, and gastrointestinal
disorders.
5,10
The pathophysiology of
HG is poorly understood, but some
studies have shown a genetic predispo-
sition to HG.
11,12
A genome-wide asso-
ciation study found an association
between the presence of HG in pregnant
patients and the placenta and appetite
genes GDF15 and IGFBP7.
13
Petry et
al
14
found an association between
higher GDF15 serum levels and second-
trimester nausea and vomiting or antie-
metics use in pregnant patients. HG is
managed with rehydration, pyridoxine,
and antiemetics, which have been
shown to be effective at preventing
emergency department (ED) revisits
and rehospitalization.
1518
However,
randomized controlled trials have gen-
erally been of low quality.
19
Despite the frequent use of the ED by
pregnant patients for HG treatment, to
the best of our knowledge there have
been no previous studies quantifying
ED use for HG, the cost of these visits,
or trends in ED use and cost over time.
This study aims to both update and add
to the limited existing literature on the
prevalence and cost of ED visits for HG.
From the Division of Gastroenterology, Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard
Medical School, Boston, MA (Ms Geeganage
and Drs Iturrino, Ballou, Rangan, and Nee);
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard
Medical School, Boston, MA (Dr Shainker).
G.G. and J.I. share rst authorship.
The authors report no conict of interest.
G.G. received research funding from the
Charles Hamilton Houston Program at the
Amherst College Loeb Center.
Patient consent was not required because no
personal information or details were included.
The ndings of this study were presented at the
45th annual meeting of the New England
Perinatal Society, Newport, RI, April 810, 2022.
Cite this article as: Geeganage G, Iturrino J,
Shainker SA, et al. Emergency department
burden of hyperemesis gravidarum in the
United States from 2006 to 2014. Am J Obstet
Gynecol Glob Rep 2023;3:100166.
Corresponding author: Johanna Iturrino, MD,
jiturrin@bidmc.harvard.edu
2666-5778/$36.00
© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is
an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-
nd/4.0/)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xagr.2023.100166
Original Research ajog.org
February 2023 AJOG Global Reports 1
Materials and Methods
Data sources
This study evaluated the trends in ED
visits for patients with a primary diag-
nosis of HG between 2006 and 2014
using the Nationwide Emergency
Department Sample (NEDS), a database
maintained by the Healthcare Cost and
Utilization Project (HCUP) and the
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ). NEDS is the largest
all-payer publicly available database on
ED visits in the United States. The 2006
database contains approximately 26 mil-
lion cases from 955 hospitals in 24
states, weighted to estimate 120 million
ED visits; the 2014 database contains
»31 million cases from 945 hospitals in
34 states, weighted to estimate almost
138 million ED visits.
20
The database is
a nationally representative patient-level
sample of data with paired hospital and
geographic characteristics. Statistics on
ED trends over time and demographic
data by International Classication of
Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes
are freely available on HCUPnet.
21
The
numbers of ED visits for the years
between 2006 and 2014 were obtained
from HCUPnet. Data for the number of
births per year per age group were
obtained from the National Vital Statis-
tics Reports (NVSR) for each respective
year.
22
Study variables
HG cases were identied by primary
diagnosis using ICD-9 codes for mild
HG (643.0X) and severe HG (643.1X).
Mild and severe diagnoses were com-
bined into hyperemesis gravidarum
because of the lack of consistent diag-
nostic criteria.
23
In addition, patients
with a primary diagnosis of NVP
(643.2X, 643.8X, 643.9X) and all nonde-
livery pregnancy-related diagnoses (any
antepartum condition) were analyzed as
comparisons. Comparisons were made
on variables predened by HCUP,
including age, ED cost, discharge status,
household income, hospital location
(large metropolitan, medium and small
metropolitan, and micropolitan and
rural), and primary insurer (Medicare,
Medicaid, private, self-pay, no charge,
and other). The secondary diagnoses
were also reviewed to examine common
secondary complaints.
HCUP denes a large metropolitan
areaas a central or suburban county of
a city with 1 million population.
Medium and smallmetro areas are
counties with a population <1 million
but >50,000. Micropolitan and rural
areas are rural counties with a popula-
tion <50,000. Household income is
reported as the median income for the
patients zip code relative to the national
median income. The median income of
the patients zip code is reported using
demographic data from Claritas.
24
Statistical analysis
The rate per 100,000 ED visits for a spe-
cic diagnosis was calculated by divid-
ing the number of ED visits with that
primary diagnosis by the total number
of ED visits and multiplying by 100,000.
Trends in admission over time are
reported as percentage of ED visits that
result in hospital admission. Rates of
ED visits from 2006 to 2014 are
reported as proportions of births in that
year that resulted in an ED visit for HG.
The percentage of US births with a visit
to the ED for HG or NVP each year was
calculated by extrapolating the NEDS
data to NVSR data assuming an average
of 1 fetus per pregnant patient. All cost
data were adjusted for ination to June
2021 US dollars using the Consumer
Price Index ination calculator.
25
The
total aggregate cost data were calculated
by multiplying the mean cost by the
total number of ED visits. Statistical
analysis was performed on the 2006 and
2014 NEDS data using IBM SPSS Statis-
tics, Version 28.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk,
NY) and RStudio (RStudio, Boston,
MA). For quantitative variables, the
mean, median, standard deviation, and
standard error were calculated. For cat-
egorical variables, the proportions for
each category were tallied. The 95%
condence intervals (CIs) were calcu-
lated by adding and subtracting the
standard error from the mean.
Results
Patient demographics
The mean age at presentation for preg-
nant patients with HG visiting the ED
increased slightly from 2006 to 2014
(24.225.3 years) (Figure 1). The pro-
portion of patients in the youngest
group (<19 years old) had the largest
decrease from 2006 to 2014 (19.8% to
13.4%), whereas the proportion of
patients aged >30 years increased from
16.7% to 21.2%. The proportion of
patients in the lowest-income quartile
increased from 34.5% to 37.7%, whereas
those in the highest-income quartile
decreased from 13.6% to 12.4% between
2006 and 2014. The proportion of
patients with HG covered by Medicaid
increased from 47.9% to 57.6%
(Table 1). Per US births, the percentage
of pregnant patients with a visit to the
ED for HG increased across all age
brackets, with the largest increase in the
youngest group (Figure 2). The trends
AJOG Global Reports at a Glance
Why was this study conducted?
This study was conducted to examine the use of the emergency room over time
in the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum and how these trends correlate with
admissions and cost.
Key ndings
The number of emergency department visits for hyperemesis gravidarum
increased from 2006 to 2014, but the proportion of people admitted to inpatient
care decreased. The cost of emergency department visits for hyperemesis gravi-
darum increased over time, even with adjustment for ination.
What does this add to what is known?
This study adds to limited existing literature on emergency department visits for
hyperemesis gravidarum, which is important given the large number of patients
who use the emergency department for care.
Original Research ajog.org
2AJOG Global Reports February 2023
for pregnant patients with NVP visiting
the ED were similar to those observed
in pregnant patients with HG (Table 2).
Demographic data for patients visiting
the ED with any antepartum condition
also follow similar trends (Supplemen-
tary Table 1).
Emergency department visits
In 2014, HG was the third most com-
mon reason, after threatened abortion
and genitourinary tract infection, for
early pregnancy ED visits (Supplemen-
tary Table 2), with 7.2% of those visits
having reported HG as the primary
diagnosis. The number of ED visits with
HG as the primary diagnosis increased
by 27.7% from 2006 to 2014, as opposed
to a 15% increase in all ED visits. Per
100,000 ED visits, the visit rate
increased from 148.2 to 164.9. Out of all
US births, the percentage of pregnant
patients with HG or NVP who visited
the ED increased from 4.2% to 5.7%
between 2006 and 2014 (Figure 3).
Despite the increase in ED visits for
HG, admission rates from the ED
decreased from 7.7% to 4.5% from 2006
to 2014 (Supplemental Figure 1). In
2014, HG was the fourth most common
reason for admission for pregnant
patients (Supplementary Table 3). Simi-
larly, in that time, the number of ED
visits for NVP increased by 67%, and
the rate per 100,000 ED visits increased
from 29.1 to 42.4. NVP admission rates
decreased from 2.6% to 1.5% (Supple-
mentary Figure 1).
Emergency department costs
The mean ED cost per patient for HG
increased from $2156.25 (95% CI,
2151.542160.96) to $3549.07 (95% CI,
3549.053556.09)a 65% increase
(Supplementary Figure 2). The aggre-
gate cost for HG increased by 110%
from $383,681,346 (95% CI,
382,843,692384,518,999) to
$806,696,513 (95% CI, 805,100,999
808,292,027) (Supplementary Figure
3). Similarly, the mean ED cost per
patient for NVP increased by 73% from
$1993.93 (95% CI, 1984.432003.43) to
$3441.27 (95% CI, 1990.932015.92).
The aggregate cost of NVP increased
from $69,534,321 (95% CI, 69,203,121
69,865,521) to $201,099,897 (95% CI,
200,369,751201,830,044)a 189%
increase. For patients with any antepar-
tum condition visiting the ED, the
trends in costs are similar (Supplemen-
tary Table 1).
Secondary diagnoses
The most common secondary diagnoses
after a primary diagnosis of HG were
dehydration, genitourinary tract infec-
tion, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In
2006, 12.5% of HG patients who visited
the ED had dehydration as a secondary
diagnosis; in 2014, the incidence
decreased to 8.1%. Patients with a
primary diagnosis of NVP had similar
common secondary diagnoses. In 2006,
5.2% of NVP patients had dehydration
listed as a secondary diagnosis, and
4.8% had a coexisting urinary tract
infection (UTI). In 2014, 5.0% of NVP
patients had UTI listed as a secondary
diagnosis, and 3.0% of patients had
dehydration as a secondary diagnosis.
Discussion
Principal ndings
Using the NEDS data on all US ED vis-
its, this study found an over 27%
increase in all ED visits for HG between
2006 and 2014. Despite this, there was a
nearly 60% reduction in HG admissions
during the same time. Comparable with
the increase in costs of all antepartum
ED visits between 2006 to 2014, the
average cost of an ED visit for HG
increased by 65%, and the aggregate
cost increased by 110%.
Results
Demographic ndings of this study are
consistent with previous studies. The
mean age of HG patients at ED visit
increased from 24.2 to 25.3 years from
2006 to 2014, comparable with the
increase in mean age for any (related to
HG or not) antepartum visit from 25.2
to 26.3 years. The average age at ED
visit of HG patients was 1.11 years
lower than the average age at any ante-
partum ED visit, which is consistent
with current belief that HG primarily
affects pregnant patients of younger
ages.
5
We also observed a decrease in
HG and NVP patients aged <24 years,
and an increase in HG and NVP
patients aged >25 years. This follows
the upward trend of the average age of
giving birth.
Our ndings are consistent with pre-
vious work with respect to insurance
status and payer mix.
26
The proportion
of patients with Medicaid as the pri-
mary insurer increased from 47.9% to
57.6% from 2006 to 2014, which is com-
parable with the increase observed for
all antepartum visits. Pregnant patients
in the lowest 2 income quartiles visit the
ED more frequently than pregnant
patients in the higher income levels,
likely because of the lack of access to
FIGURE 1
Mean age by diagnosis over time
Trends in mean age of all pregnant patients presenting to the ED with a primary diagnosis of NVP or
HG compared with the mean age of childbirth in the United States between 2006 and 2014.
ED, emergency department; HG, hyperemesis gravidarum; NVP, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Geeganage. Emergency department burden of hyperemesis gravidarum. Am J Obstet Gynecol Glob Rep 2023.
ajog.org Original Research
February 2023 AJOG Global Reports 3
established obstetrical care in early
pregnancy.
27
Recent reviews report HG as the most
common reason for hospitalization in the
rst half of pregnancy, and as second
only to preterm labor for hospitalization
overall.
3,28
In contrast, our study shows
that HG was the third most common
indication for ED visits during early preg-
nancy (Supplementary Table 2)andthe
fourth most common reason for inpa-
tient admission from the ED (Supple-
mentary Table 3). Similarly, Monti et al
29
recently published a study using 2017
data from 246 hospitals in the state of
California identifying HG as the fourth
most common reason for ED visit in
early pregnancy and the third most com-
mon reason for inpatient admission from
the ED during pregnancy.
Despite the decrease in the number of
births in the United States between 2006
and 2014, this study found an increase
in HG and NVP ED visits.
30,31
Although the reasons for this increase
remain unknown, we believe that the
following could help explain this trend:
reduced capacity at outpatient infusion
service, payer restrictions on admission
for outpatient services, increased use of
observation status, and reduced capacity
of obstetrical services over time.
32
Simi-
larly, a possible explanation for the 65%
increase in the average cost of a HG ED
visit but a 110% increase in the aggre-
gate cost of HG ED visits is that the cost
burden of treating HG is shifted to the
ED instead of being charged to the inpa-
tient. Further research is also needed to
determine why patients are decreasingly
admitted as inpatients. However, it
should be noted that the cost increased
at a similar rate for HG as for all ante-
partum ED visits, which may indicate
that increasing cost is not diagnosis-
specic. By comparison, the average
cost per patient for all ED visits
increased by 93%, suggesting that treat-
ing HG may not be as costly as treating
other diagnoses.
Clinical implications
As ED visits for HG and NVP rise, with
concurrent rising ED visit costs, these
trends raise the question of where is the
best location for treatment of HG and
NVP. We believe that seeking care in an
emergency room setting for such symp-
toms is a poor utilization of ED resour-
ces, which are already strained during
the current pandemic.
33
In the increas-
ingly restrictive climate regarding
healthcare access, without new innova-
tive care settings and additional access,
patients and providers are limited to
few alternatives to the ED. Furthermore,
given the current global pandemic,
there are additional safety concerns for
pregnant patients, who may be particu-
larly susceptible to infection.
34
Research implications
This study found that although the
number of HG ED visits has increased,
the proportion of patients admitted has
decreased. Further studies are needed to
TABLE 1
Emergency department visits with primary diagnosis of hyperemesis
gravidarum
Observation
2006
N (%)
Mean (SD)
2014
N (%)
Mean (SD)
N primary dx of HG
N per 100,000 ED visits
Mean age (y)
Range
<19
2024
2529
3034
3539
>40
Mean ED cost ($)
Median ED cost ($)
Total aggregate cost ($)
Mean number of diagnoses
Range
Discharge status
Discharged
Admitted
Median-income quartile
Highest-income level
Second quartile
Third quartile
Lowest-income level
Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West
Patient location
Large metropolitan
Medium and small metropolitan
Micropolitan and rural
Primary insurer
Medicare
Medicaid
Private insurance
Self-pay
No charge
Other
177,940
148.2
24.2 (5.3)
1254
35,195 (19.8)
68,531 (38.5)
44,495 (25.0)
21,004 (11.8)
7322 (4.1)
1392 (0.8)
2156.24 (1757.02)
1808.57
383,681,345.60
2.2 (1.6)
121
164,229 (92.3)
13,711 (7.7)
24,060 (13.6)
38,868 (21.9)
50,557 (28.6)
61,929 (34.5)
26,623 (15.0)
41,685 (23.4)
76,602 (43.0)
33,030 (18.6)
94,571 (53.2)
55,557 (31.2)
27,241 (15.3)
1506 (0.9)
85,316 (47.9)
56,069 (31.5)
27,748 (15.6)
1947 (1.1)
4769 (2.7)
227,298
164.9
25.3 (5.4)
1152
30,559 (13.4)
83,698 (36.8)
64,968 (28.6)
33,658 (14.8)
12,214 (5.4)
2203 (1.0)
3549.07 (3119.55)
2848.02
806,696,512.86
2.9 (2.1)
125
217,043 (95.5)
10,256 (4.5)
28,160 (12.4)
44,102 (19.4)
66,586 (29.3)
85,726 (37.7)
37,184 (16.4)
53,486 (23.5)
96,270 (42.3)
40,358 (17.8)
118,337 (52.1)
77,617 (34.2)
30,558 (13.4)
2879 (1.3)
130,890 (57.6)
62,868 (27.7)
22,809 (10.0)
842 (0.4)
6697 (2.9)
Descriptive statistics for all pregnant patients who visited the ED with a primary dx of HG. All charges reported in 2021 US dol-
lars. Percentages may not add up to 100% because of missing data.
dx, diagnosis; ED, emergency department; HG, hyperemesis gravidarum; SD, standard deviation.
Geeganage. Emergency department burden of hyperemesis gravidarum. Am J Obstet Gynecol Glob Rep 2023.
Original Research ajog.org
4AJOG Global Reports February 2023
address the reason for these trends and
potential correlations between treat-
ments given in the ED and discharge
status. In addition, many unanswered
questions remain because of the limita-
tions of the NEDS database, which does
not include information on gestational
age or fetal number, which has been
shown to correlate with HG symp-
toms.
12
This study also does not
account for urgent care visits, obstet-
rics-specic triage units, or direct
admissions bypassing the ED, which are
not included in the NEDS, and may be
interesting to examine and compare
with ED care. Lastly, and critically
important, the absence of race or eth-
nicity data in the NEDS database results
in a critical void of data that are neces-
sary to understand any disparities on
this topic.
Strengths and limitations
This study has many strengths. First, we
used the NEDS database, a weighted,
nationally representative dataset of all
ED visits, strengthening the generaliz-
ability of our ndings across the United
States. Second, despite the limitations of
working with large databases, by using
data from several national databases
(NEDS, AHRQ, NVSR), we further
increased the generalizability of these
results. Third, relative to the existing lit-
erature, this was a large study on ED
visits for HG and NVP.
This study also has limitations. As
with other publicly available and
nationally representative datasets, the
NEDS contains deidentied data that
are dependent on hospital coding; thus,
we were unable to conrm the accuracy
of the diagnoses or determine whether a
single individual used the ED multiple
times for the same diagnosis. The data-
base only identies the US region
(Northeast, South, Midwest, West) with
regard to hospital location, so it is not
possible to address policy changes such
as Medicaid expansion by state and
their effect on ED visits. Lastly, cases
were identied by primary diagnosis,
raising the possibility that some patients
with a secondary or tertiary diagnosis of
HG were excluded from the analysis.
FIGURE 2
Hyperemesis gravidarum visits by age group over time
Percentage of US births with an emergency department visit for hyperemesis gravidarum by age
group, 2006 vs 2014. Similar trends were observed for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Geeganage. Emergency department burden of hyperemesis gravidarum. Am J Obstet Gynecol Glob Rep 2023.
TABLE 2
Emergency department visits with primary diagnosis of nausea and
vomiting of pregnancy
Observation
2006
N (%)
Mean (SD)
2014
N (%)
Mean (SD)
N primary dx of NVP
N per 100,000 ED visits
Mean age (y)
Range
<19
2024
2529
3034
3539
>40
Mean ED cost ($)
Median ED cost ($)
Total aggregate cost ($)
Mean number of diagnoses
Range
Discharge status
Discharged
Admitted
Median-income quartile
Highest-income level
Second quartile
Third quartile
Lowest-income level
Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West
Patient location
Large metropolitan
Medium and small metropolitan
Micropolitan and rural
Primary insurer
Medicare
Medicaid
Private insurance
Self-pay
No charge
Other
34,873
29.1
24.1 (5.4)
12-47
7182 (20.6)
13,669 (39.2)
8279 (23.7)
3928 (11.3)
1559 (4.5)
256 (0.7)
1993.93 (1596.81)
1649.63
69,534,320.89
2.3 (1.6)
119
33,984 (97.4)
890 (2.6)
3729 (10.7)
7270 (20.8)
10,346 (29.7)
12,975 (37.2)
4348 (12.5)
7278 (20.9)
17,680 (50.7)
5567 (15.9)
16,363 (47.0)
12,038 (34.5)
6351 (18.2)
272 (0.8)
19,811 (54.2)
9818 (28.2)
4587 (13.1)
248 (0.7)
940 (2.7)
58,436
42.4
25.4 (5.4)
12-52
7342 (12.6)
21,410 (36.6)
16,713 (28.6)
9099 (15.6)
3171 (5.4)
682 (1.2)
3441.37 (2878.65)
2776.01
201,099,897.32
2.9 (2.0)
128
57,571 (98.5)
865 (1.5)
5845 (10.0)
10,397 (17.8)
17,004 (29.1)
24,342 (41.7)
11,752 (20.1)
12,371 (21.1)
26,929 (46.1)
7384 (12.6)
29,563 (50.6)
20,506 (35.1)
8155 (13.9)
1053 (1.8)
34,888 (59.7)
15,589 (26.7)
5083 (8.7)
163 (0.3)
1598 (2.7)
Descriptive statistics for all pregnant patients who visited the ED with a primary dx of NVP. All charges reported in 2021 US dol-
lars. Percentages may not add up to 100% because of missing data.
dx, diagnosis; ED, emergency department; NVP, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy; SD, standard deviation.
Geeganage. Emergency department burden of hyperemesis gravidarum. Am J Obstet Gynecol Glob Rep 2023.
February 2023 AJOG Global Reports 5
ajog.org Original Research
Conclusions
ED visits for HG have increased by
27.7% between the years 2006 and 2014,
whereas inpatient admissions have
decreased by 42%. The increase in HG
ED visits is disproportional to the
trends in US births over the same years.
The costs associated with ED visits for
HG have risen proportionally with costs
associated with all antepartum ED vis-
its. &
Supplementary materials
Supplementary material associated with
this article can be found in the online
version at doi:10.1016/j.xagr.2023.
100166.
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FIGURE 3
Percentage of ED visits per US births
Trends in percentage of total US births with an ED visit for NVP and HG between 2006 and 2014.
ED, emergency department; HG, hyperemesis gravidarum; NVP, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Geeganage. Emergency department burden of hyperemesis gravidarum. Am J Obstet Gynecol Glob Rep 2023.
6AJOG Global Reports February 2023
Original Research ajog.org
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February 2023 AJOG Global Reports 7
ajog.org Original Research
... The spectrum of severe maternal complications extends to esophageal injury, central pontine myelinolysis, retinal hemorrhage, and spontaneous pneumomediastinum. According to a metaanalysis conducted in 2005, the average overall cost during pregnancy was $7499 in cases without HG and increased to $17,938 with HG (reported in 2005 US dollars), with a significant portion attributed to hospitalization [9,11]. Therefore, early diagnosis, hospitalization prediction, and cost-effective treatment are gaining importance. ...
Article
Full-text available
Objective To investigate the predictive value of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) severity, hospitalization, and length of stay. Materials and methods This retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted between December 2022 and June 2023, involved two groups. Group 1 comprised 52 pregnant women diagnosed with HG in the first trimester, receiving hospitalization and treatment. Group 2 included 105 pregnant women diagnosed with HG in the first trimester, managed and treated as outpatients. The CONUT score was calculated with the formula: Serum albumin score + total lymphocyte score + total cholesterol score. This score is calculated with a number of points between 0 and 12. The interpretation of the score involves four categories: normal (0–1), light (2–4), moderate (5–8), and severe (9–12). Results The CONUT score differed significantly between the hospitalized (4, IQR: 2.25–5) and outpatient groups (2, IQR: 2–3) (p < 0.001). A CONUT score >3 was associated with the need for hospitalization, demonstrating a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 84% (p < 0.001). The CONUT score was the parameter with the highest odds ratio (OR) value among the parameters related to the need for hospitalization, and each unit increase in the CONUT score increased the need for hospitalization by 1.683 times [OR = 1.683 (95% CI: 1.042–2.718), p = 0.033]. A positive correlation was found between the CONUT score and the duration of hospital stay (r = 0.316, p = 0.023). Conclusions This study suggests CONUT score as a valuable tool for predicting HG severity, hospitalization need, and duration of hospital stay.
... The usual onset for NVP is between four and nine weeks of gestational age, with maximal symptoms at 12-15 weeks and resolution by 20 weeks of gestational age. In a study conducted to assess the emergency department burden of hyperemesis gravidarum in the United States from 2006 to 2014, HG was the third most common reason, after threatened abortion and genitourinary tract infection, for early pregnancy ED visits, with 7.2% of those visits having reported HG as the primary diagnosis, and accounted as the fourth most common reason for admission for pregnant patients [10]. The symptoms of HG predominantly include any combination of the following: nausea, gagging, retching, dry heaving, vomiting, and odor and/or food aversion. ...
Article
Full-text available
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe and debilitating condition characterized by persistent and excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP), often leading to significant maternal and fetal morbidity. This literature review aims to provide a scientifically comprehensive overview of HG within the context of the emergency room (ER) setting. This review aims to enhance understanding and improve the management of HG cases presented to the ER by synthesizing current knowledge and evidence-based practices. This literature review encompasses a systematic analysis of relevant scientific literature, encompassing original research studies, review articles, and clinical guidelines. An extensive search of electronic databases was conducted, covering the period from January 2003 to January 2023. Keywords related to HG, pregnancy-related complications, emergency medicine, and ER management were employed to identify pertinent publications. Through the literature review, we found the incidence of HG-related ER admission to be 0.8%. Although the etiology of HG remains to be unknown, a strong association was found between developing HG in pregnant females and a history of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, use of cannabis, and pregnancies conceived through artificial reproductive technology (ART). Furthermore, overweight females were more likely to develop HG. Maternal smoking was found to be protective against HG. The symptoms of HG mainly include intractable nausea and vomiting occurring usually between four and nine weeks of gestational age with a significant aversion to food and loss of weight. Diagnosis is done through a strong clinical suspicion, a history of HG in previous pregnancies, and a basic metabolic panel. Treatment includes intravenous (IV) fluids, antiemetic therapy, corticoids, thiamine supplements, and laxatives. In our review, we highlight a few complications that can be seen in HG through a synopsis of unique case reports found during our literature search. In conclusion, through this review, we wish to highlight HG as an obstetrical emergency. We aim to improve understanding, enhance early recognition, and promote evidence-based management strategies for HG in the emergency room. We hope that the findings presented herein will serve as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers involved in the care of pregnant females experiencing HG in the ER.
Article
Full-text available
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is a common condition that affects as many as 70% of pregnant women. Although no consensus definition is available for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), it is typically viewed as the severe form of NVP and has been reported to occur in 0.3-10.8% of pregnant women. HG can be associated with poor maternal, fetal and child outcomes. The majority of women with NVP can be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes, but more than one-third of patients experience clinically relevant symptoms that may require fluid and vitamin supplementation and/or antiemetic therapy such as, for example, combined doxylamine/pyridoxine, which is not teratogenic and may be effective in treating NVP. Ondansetron is commonly used to treat HG, but studies are urgently needed to determine whether it is safer and more effective than using first-line antiemetics. Thiamine (vitamin B1) should be introduced following protocols to prevent refeeding syndrome and Wernicke encephalopathy. Recent advances in the genetic study of NVP and HG suggest a placental component to the aetiology by implicating common variants in genes encoding placental proteins (namely GDF15 and IGFBP7) and hormone receptors (namely GFRAL and PGR). New studies on aetiology, diagnosis, management and treatment are under way. In the next decade, progress in these areas may improve maternal quality of life and limit the adverse outcomes associated with HG.
Article
Full-text available
Objective: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) affects 0.3–3% of pregnant women and is a leading cause of hospitalization in early pregnancy. The aim of the study was to investigate women’s treatment and management of HG, as well as the consequences of HG on women’s daily life. Design and setting: A cross-sectional study based on a structured telephone interview and an online questionnaire. Participants were recruited by social media and by the Norwegian patient’s organization for HG. Subjects: Norwegian women that experienced HG. Main outcome measure: Women’s perspectives on management and consequences of HG. Results: The study included 107 women. Maternal morbidity was profound; about 3/4 of participants were hospitalized due to HG, and the majority showed clinical signs of dehydration (79%), ketonuria (75%), and >5% weight loss (84%). Antiemetics were used by >90% and frequently prescribed “as needed”. Metoclopramide (71%) and meclozine (51%) were most commonly used. Participants described HG as having severe psychosocial consequences and profound impact on daily activities. Almost two out of five reported thoughts of elective abortion, and 8 women had at least one elective pregnancy termination due to HG. Overall, 20 women (19%) changed GPs due to dissatisfaction with HG management. Conclusion: Despite the high psychosocial burden and major impact on daily activities, many women with HG reported a lack of support from healthcare professionals and suboptimal management. Greater awareness and knowledge among healthcare professionals is needed to improve care for women with HG. • Key Points • There is a paucity of studies on management and the consequences of HG on women’s daily lives and psychosocial burden. We found that: • • Many women described HG as one of their worst life experiences with profound morbidity. • • Many women reported suboptimal management of HG and lack of support from healthcare professionals. • • Greater understanding of patient perspectives among healthcare professionals is important to improve care and management for HG patients.
Article
Full-text available
Background: Although nausea and vomiting are very common in pregnancy, their pathogenesis is poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that circulating growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) concentrations in early pregnancy, whose gene is implicated in hyperemesis gravidarum, are associated with nausea and vomiting. Methods: Blood samples for the measurement of GDF15 and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) concentrations were obtained early in the second trimester (median 15.1 (interquartile range 14.4-15.7) weeks) of pregnancy from 791 women from the Cambridge Baby Growth Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort. During each trimester participants completed a questionnaire which included questions about nausea, vomiting and antiemetic use. Associations with pre-pregnancy body mass indexes (BMI) were validated in 231 pregnant NIPTeR Study participants. Results: Circulating GDF15 concentrations were higher in women reporting vomiting in the second trimester than in women reporting no pregnancy nausea or vomiting: 11,581 (10,977-12,219) (n=175) vs. 10,593 (10,066-11,147) (n=193) pg/mL, p=0.02). In women who took antiemetic drugs during pregnancy (n=11) the GDF15 levels were also raised 13,157 (10,558-16,394) pg/mL (p =0.04). Serum GFD15 concentrations were strongly positively correlated with hCG levels but were inversely correlated with maternal BMIs, a finding replicated in the NIPTeR Study. Conclusions: Week 15 serum GDF15 concentrations are positively associated with second trimester vomiting and maternal antiemetic use in pregnancy. Given GDF15’s site of action in the chemoreceptor trigger zone of the brainstem and its genetic associations with hyperemesis gravidarum, these data support the concept that GDF15 may be playing a pathogenic role in pregnancy-associated vomiting.
Article
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common in early pregnancy but there is a wide spectrum of severity in terms of the duration and acuity of symptoms throughout gestation. Adverse maternal and fetal outcomes have been seen in women who experience severe symptoms, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Evidence-based, assessment and management can reduce symptom severity, avoid physical and psychological deterioration and minimise the impact on quality of life and function. A pathway for assessment and management of NVP and HG in the emergency room is presented based on the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Guideline for the Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Assessment requires an objective evaluation using a validated scoring system such as the PUQE-24 score, as well as calculation of hydration and nutritional status. Ketonuria is not associated with either the diagnosis or severity of HG. Further investigation including biochemistry is only required in severe cases. Many women will have tried a range of therapies and an important aspect of treatment is to recognise the validity of their symptoms. Treatment may require a combination of intravenous fluids, anti-emetics, acid suppression and laxatives. Outpatient management is optimal but admission may be required for refractory symptoms, organ dysfunction or concurrent significant co-morbidities. Emergency management of NVP and HG requires an appropriate pathway of care to support women until the natural resolution of their condition. Both underuse of safe therapies and overuse of ineffective medication must be avoided.
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There are many unknowns for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical experience of pregnancies complicated with infection by other coronaviruses e.g. SARS and MERS, has led to pregnant woman being considered potentially vulnerable to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Physiological changes during pregnancy have a significant impact on the immune system, respiratory system, cardiovascular function and coagulation. These may have positive or negative effects on COVID-19 disease progression. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy remains to be determined and a concerted, global effort is required to determine effects on implantation, fetal growth and development, labour and neonatal health. Asymptomatic infection presents a further challenge regarding service provision, prevention and management. As well as direct impacts of the disease, a plethora of indirect consequences of the pandemic will adversely affect maternal health including reduced access to reproductive health services, increased mental health strain and increased socioeconomic deprivation. In this review we explore the current knowledge of COVID-19 in pregnancy and signpost areas for further research to minimise its impact for women and their children.
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In 2014, 54% of rural US counties had no hospital-based obstetric services, following a steady decline over the prior decade.¹ Loss of rural maternity care is associated with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Rural counties that have lost hospital-based obstetric services experienced higher rates of emergency department births, and in rural counties not adjacent to urban areas, increases in preterm birth, a leading cause of infant mortality.
Article
Background: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a common cause of hospital admission in early pregnancy. There is no international consensus on the definition of HG, or on outcomes that should be reported in trials. Consistency in definition and outcome reporting is important for the interpretation and synthesis of data in meta-analyses. Objective: To identify which HG definitions and outcomes are currently in use in trials. Search strategy: We searched the following sources: (1) Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, (2) Embase and (3) Medline for published trials and the WHO-ICTRP database for ongoing trials (27 October 2017). Selection criteria: All randomised clinical trials reporting on any intervention for HG were eligible. Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers independently assessed trial eligibility and extracted data on HG definition and outcomes. Main results: We included 31 published trials reporting data from 2511 women and three ongoing trials with a planned sample size of 360 participants. We identified 11 definition items. Most commonly used definition items were vomiting (34 trials) and nausea (30 trials). We identified 34 distinct outcomes. Most commonly reported outcomes were vomiting (29 trials), nausea (26 trials), need for hospital treatment (14 trials) and duration of hospital (re)admission(s) (14 trials). Conclusion: There is substantial variation of HG definition and outcome reporting in trials. This hampers meaningful aggregation of trial results in meta-analysis and implementation of evidence in guidelines. To overcome this, international consensus on a definition and a core outcome set for HG trials should be developed. Tweetable abstract: There is a wide variation of definitions and outcomes reported in trials on hyperemesis gravidarum.