Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2022; 226(05): 304-310
DOI: 10.1055/a-1808-1800
Original Article

Do Meteorological Variations and Climate Changes Affect Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

1   Obstetrics and Gynecology, Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Gynecology Training and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey
,
Selcuk Misirligil
2   General Surgery, Pursaklar State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
3   Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
H. Levent Keskin
3   Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
,
Ayse Filiz Yavuz
4   Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
› Author Affiliations

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.



Publication History

Received: 25 December 2021

Accepted after revision: 23 March 2022

Article published online:
30 June 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
  • References

  • 1 Koot MH, Grooten IJ, van der Post JAM. et al. Determinants of disease course and severity in hyperemesis gravidarum. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 245: 162-167
  • 2 Fejzo MS, Trovik J, Grooten IJ. et al. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2019; 5(1): 1-17
  • 3 McMichael AJ, Woodruff RE, Hales S. Climate change and human health: present and future risks. Lancet 2006; 367: 859-869
  • 4 Goggins WB, Woo J, Ho S. et al. Weather, season, and daily stroke admissions in Hong Kong. Int J Biometeorol 2012; 56: 865-872
  • 5 Engebretsen KA, Johansen JD, Kezic S. et al. The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2016; 30: 223-249
  • 6 Bouzid M, Hooper L, Hunter PR. The effectiveness of public health interventions to reduce the health impact of climate change: a systematic review of systematic reviews. PLoS One 2013; 8: e62041
  • 7 Walsh BS, Parratt SR, Hoffmann AA. et al. The impact of climate change on fertility. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34: 249-259
  • 8 Dehdashti B, Bagheri N, Amin MM. et al. Impacts of climate changes on pregnancy and birth outcomes: a review. Int J Env Health Eng 2020; 9: 24
  • 9 Ngampramuan S, Cerri M, Del Vecchio F. et al. Thermoregulatory correlates of nausea in rats and musk shrews. Oncotarget 2014; 5: 1565-1575
  • 10 Watanabe S, Asakura H, Power GG. et al. Alterations of thermoregulation in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2003; 267: 221-226
  • 11 Kredel M, Goepfert C, Bassi D. et al. The influence of the weather and the phase of the moon on post-operative nausea and vomiting. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2006; 50: 488-494
  • 12 Mitchell-Jones N, Gallos I, Farren J. et al. Psychological morbidity associated with hyperemesis gravidarum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG 2017; 124: 20-30
  • 13 Geographic coordinates https://www.geodatos.net/en/coordinates/turkey/ankara Accessed January 2022
  • 14 Climate data of regions https://tr.climate-data.org/asya/tuerkiye/ankara/ankara-172/ Accessed January 2022
  • 15 Rylander C, Odland JØ, Sandanger TM. Climate change and environmental impacts on maternal and newborn health with focus on Arctic populations. Glob Health Action 2011; 4: 8452
  • 16 Togo F, Watanabe E, Park H. et al. Meteorology and the physical activity of the elderly: the Nakanojo Study. Int J Biometeorol 2005; 50: 83-89
  • 17 Asamoah B, Kjellstrom T, Östergren PO. Is ambient heat exposure levels associated with miscarriage or stillbirths in hot regions? A cross-sectional study using survey data from the Ghana Maternal Health Survey 2007. Int J Biometeorol 2018; 62: 319-330
  • 18 Edwards MJ. Review: Hyperthermia and fever during pregnancy. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 2006; 76: 507-516
  • 19 Kilinc MF, Cakmak S, Demir DO. et al. Does maternal exposure during pregnancy to higher ambient temperature increase the risk of hypospadias?. J Pediatr Urol 2016; 12: 407.e1-407.e6
  • 20 Molina O, Saldarriaga V. The perils of climate change: in utero exposure to temperature variability and birth outcomes in the Andean region. Econ Hum Biol 2017; 24: 111-124
  • 21 Basu R, Rau R, Pearson D. et al. Temperature and term low birth weight in California. Am J Epidemiol 2018; 187: 2306-2314
  • 22 Deschenes O, Greenstone M, Guryan J. Climate change and birth weight. Am Econ Rev 2009; 99: 211-217
  • 23 Sun S, Spangler KR, Weinberger KR. et al. Ambient temperature and markers of fetal growth: a retrospective observational study of 29 million U.S. singleton births. Environ Health Perspect 2019; 127: 67005
  • 24 Cianconi P, Betrò S, Janiri L. The impact of climate change on mental health: a systematic descriptive review. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11: 74
  • 25 Doherty TJ, Clayton S. The psychological impacts of global climate change. Am Psychol 2011; 66: 265-276
  • 26 Stewart AE. Psychometric properties of the climate change worry scale. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18: 494
  • 27 Mitchell-Jones N, Lawson K, Bobdiwala S. et al. Association between hyperemesis gravidarum and psychological symptoms, psychosocial outcomes and infant bonding: a two-point prospective case-control multicentre survey study in an inner city setting. BMJ Open 2020; 10: e039715
  • 28 Pirimoglu ZM, Guzelmeric K, Alpay B. et al. Psychological factors of hyperemesis gravidarum by using the SCL-90-R questionnaire. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 2010; 37: 56-59
  • 29 Groleau D, Benady-Chorney J, Panaitoiu A, Jimenez V. Hyperemesis gravidarum in the context of migration: when the absence of cultural meaning gives rise to “blaming the victim”. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019; 19(1): 1-11
  • 30 Tucker P, Gilliland J. The effect of season and weather on physical activity: a systematic review. Public Health 2007; 121: 909-922