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Hyperemesis Gravidarum is associated with substantial economic burden in addition to severe physical and psychological suffering.

Isr J Health Policy Res. 2016 Oct 10; 5: 43. eCollection 2016.
by Trovik J, Vikanes A. Bergen, Norway. 

Two Norwegian researchers conducted a review of the medical literature about the economic costs as well as psychological distress associated with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). 

In study by Konikoff T et al, study, data obtained from a 3-years cohort comprising 184 women hospitalized due to HG at the Galilee Medical Center and the hospital’s birth registry were used to estimate the incidence of HG; 1.2 %. Based on the number of days in hospital (mean 2.2) and post-hospital rest days (mean 4.6), the total annual cost in the Western Galilee was estimated to be approximate 453 thousand NIS (110 thousand USD). When considering the nearly 171,000 yearly deliveries in Israel per year, the total national economic burden due to HG was estimated to be 20 million NIS (approximately 5.2 million USD). 

In a Canadian study by Piwko C et al, the estimated direct (medication, hospital/health care cost) and indirect costs (sick leave) of 139 sick women calling a nausea and vomiting helpline was evaluated. Women classified with severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, the costs amounted to $ 653 (Canadian dollar) total weekly costs. 

Piwko et al determined the US estimate of direct and indirect costs from HG totaled $ 185 million (USD), or $ 7,089 per woman in 2012. 


Konifoff T, Avraham T, Ophir E, Bornstein J. Hyperemesis gravidarum in northern Israel: an epidemiological retrospective study. Isr J of Health Policy Res. 2016; doi: 10.1186/s13584-016-0100-9. 

Piwko C, Koren G, Babashov V, Vicente C, Einarson TR. Economic burden of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in the USA. J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol. 2013; 20 (2): e 149-60. 

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