The incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum is increased among Pacific Islanders living in Wellington

Abstract

AIMS: To compare the incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum among Pacific Islanders living in Wellington with nonPacific Islanders and to investigate some properties of the disorder. METHODS: Data were collected on all first time admissions to Wellington Women's Hospital for hyperemesis gravidarum over a 5-year period. Women were classified as having severe hyperemesis gravidarum if abnormalities of serum electrolytes and liver function tests results were present and as less severe if these abnormalities were absent. Almost all women had ketonuria. Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios, chi 2 analysis and Fisher's 2-tailed exact test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The proportion of hyperemesis gravidarum patients who were Pacific Islanders was significantly increased when compared to their proportion in a control group (p < 0.01). The difference remained significant when the hyperemesis patients were divided into less and more severe. Abnormal thyroid function test results were more common among Pacific Island patients than among nonPacific Island patients. This difference was significant (p < 0.01) only in the less severe group. CONCLUSION: The incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum is significantly increased among Pacific Island women (especially Samoans) living in Wellington and is often associated with abnormalities of thyroid function test results.