RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). STUDY DESIGN: A large German health insurance company provided data on prescription reimbursements and socio-demographics for all women giving birth between June 2000 and May 2001. The prescribed drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code. The data was linked to the database of the Bavarian Perinatal Study in psychosocial variables as possible predictors of NVP. RESULTS: The risk of developing NVP was two times higher for non-smokers than for smokers (OR=2.03 KI [1.02-4.05]) and dropped about 3% (OR=0.97 KI [0.94-0.99]) with every year of age. Being single raised the risk of NVP by about 50% (OR=1.49 KI [1.24-1.79]) compared to women who lived with a partner, and among these women living alone, working lowered the adjusted risk about two thirds (OR=0.34 KI [0.24-0.49]) compared to women who did not work. CONCLUSION: Psychosocial variables have a clear influence on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Physicians should be aware of this fact when seeing women asking for treatment.
Asunto(s)
Náuseas Matinales/psicología , Estrés Psicológico/complicaciones , Adolescente , Adulto , Antieméticos , Utilización de Medicamentos , Femenino , Alemania , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Náuseas Matinales/tratamiento farmacológico , Análisis Multivariante , Embarazo , Factores de Riesgo , Factores SocioeconómicosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the prescribing patterns of anti-emetics for pregnant women in Germany. METHOD: A large, nation-wide German statutory sickness fund provided data of reimbursed prescriptions and personal data for all insured women giving birth between June 2000 and May 2001 (n = 41,293). The prescribed drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code. RESULT: About 13.9% (n = 5,746) of all pregnant women received an anti-emetic prescription. Over 98.5% of these women were treated with anti-emetics that are considered safe. But only 27.8% received the recommended anti-histamine meclozine and 2.1% the safest drug pyridoxine. CONCLUSION: As there are no official guidelines for the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy in Germany, many different drugs are used, sometimes ignoring effectiveness and even safety. Therefore, evidence-based guidelines for anti-emetic therapy are needed.