Abstract
Background To estimate a possible association between the effects of daily
meteorological variation and climatological changes (temperature, air pressure,
humidity, sunniness level) on pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)
according to symptoms grade and hospitalization state.
Methods A retrospective study was conducted with 118 patients diagnosed
and hospitalized with HG. HG patients were graded as mild, moderate, or severe
according to the Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE-24) scale. Data
regarding demographic characteristics, PUQE scale value, gestational week on
hospitalization, hospital admission and discharge dates, weather conditions,
daily meteorological values during hospitalization ( temperature, air pressure,
humidity, sunniness level), seasonal averages, and daily changes were recorded.
Weather records were obtained from the Ankara Meteorology General Directorate
(Ankara, Turkey). Differences between groups were compared according to HG
grade.
Results HG cases were classified as mild (33.1%), moderate
(44.9%), or severe (22.0%). The number of hospitalization days
significantly differed between these three groups (p<0.05). In contrast,
no statistically significant differences were identified between the HG grade
level groups in regard to humidity, pressure, temperature, and sunniness level
data (p>0.05). In addition, no statistically significant relationship
was identified between HG grades and seasonal conditions according to the
chi-square test (p>0.05).
Conclusion Changes in the meteorological and climate values examined were
independent of symptom severity and hospitalization rate for our HG patients.
However, it is possible that climate changes occurring around the world may
affect the pregnancy period and should be further investigated.
Key words
Hyperemesis gravidarum - climate - meteorological variation
