Characteristics of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and its association with quality of ‎life

Introduction: It is estimated that over &lrm;&rlm;70%&rlm;&lrm; of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting &lrm;during the first trimester of pregnancy. Pregnancy is associated with intense physical changes in the &lrm;ability to perform usual roles that may have an adverse effect on quality of life (QOL). &lrm; Objective: The aim of this study is to clarify the characteristics of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy &lrm;and to determine the relationship between nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and quality of life in &lrm;various weeks of pregnancy.&lrm; Methods: This study is a cross-sectional research that was carried out in three governmental &lrm;hospitals. Demographic variables and health related quality of life for nausea and vomiting &lrm;questionnaire were used. Rohdes index was used to determine the severity of nausea and vomiting.&lrm; Results: According to the findings, an increase in gestational age was correlated with decreasing of &lrm;nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP). The overall scores of NVP at &lrm;&rlm;4-7&rlm;&lrm; weeks was significantly &lrm;higher than at &lrm;&rlm;16-19&rlm;&lrm; and &lrm;&rlm;20-22&rlm;&lrm; weeks (P<&lrm;&rlm;0.0001&rlm;&lrm;). The physical scores of quality of life were &lrm;significantly correlated with the overall scores of NVP and nausea and vomiting at &lrm;&rlm;4-7&rlm;&lrm;, &lrm;&rlm;12-15&rlm;&lrm; and &lrm;&rlm;16-19&rlm;&lrm; weeks. There was a significant relationship between the severity of vomiting and decreasing &lrm;quality of life at all weeks in all gestational weeks.&lrm; Conclusion: Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy can especially decrease the quality of life during &lrm;pregnancy, specially in physical domain.&lrm;