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Nausea and vomiting epidemiology and demographics

Overview

Epidemiology and demographics

  • In population studies, at least one episode of nausea was reported in more than 50% of adults, and one episode of vomiting in more than 30% of adults within the preceding 12 months, with nausea seen more in women than men. [1] [2]
  • A significant psychological and economic impact of nausea and vomiting is seen with an estimated economic burden of $4-16 billion on US economy. [2]
  • Only 25% of people with acute symptoms of nausea and vomiting seek medical help. [3]

Incidence

  • Incidence of nausea and vomiting varies with the underlying cause.
  • Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy effects 70% to 80% of all pregnant women. [4]
  • Approximately 40% of patients experience nausea and 15%-25% patients experience vomiting with opioid use. [5]
  • Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting varies from 8%-92%. [5]

Prevalence

  • In population studies, at least one episode of nausea was reported in more than 50% of adults, and one episode of vomiting in more than 30% of adults within the preceding 12 months, with nausea seen more in women than men. [1]
  • Only 25% of people with acute symptoms of nausea and vomiting seek medical help. [3]
  • The exact prevalence of idiopathic nausea and vomiting is not known. [2]

Age

  • In a study of patients with nausea and vomiting in Australia, between April 2000 and March 2006. vomiting was more often presented in children aged <15 years and decreased steadily with age. [6]
  • Nausea was more often presented in age 15-25 years and less frequently in all other age groups.

Race

  • White/African-Americans experience less nausea than Asian/Asian-American subjects. [7] [8]

Gender

  • Prevalence of nausea is more in females than males. [9]
  • Nausea and vomiting associated with gastroenteritis is significantly more in males than in females. [6]
  • Undiagnosed cases of nausea and vomiting are more commonly seen in females than males. [6]

Developed Countries

  • In a study, nausea and vomiting was reported more commonly by less educated pregnant females (hence less common in developed countries due to high literacy rate) [10]

Developing Countries

  • Developing countries may have more cases of nausea and vomiting due to low literacy and low socioeconomic status according to a study that involved cases of nausea and vomiting in pregnant females. [10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 “Mechanisms and Control of Emesis: A Satellite Symposium of the European … – Google Books”.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Singh P, Yoon SS, Kuo B (January 2016). “Nausea: a review of pathophysiology and therapeutics”. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 9 (1): 98–112. doi:10.1177/1756283X15618131. PMC 4699282. PMID 26770271.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Metz A, Hebbard G (September 2007). “Nausea and vomiting in adults–a diagnostic approach”. Aust Fam Physician. 36 (9): 688–92. PMID 17885699.
  4. ↑ Lee NM, Saha S (June 2011). “Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy”. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 40 (2): 309–34, vii. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2011.03.009. PMC 3676933. PMID 21601782.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mallick-Searle T, Fillman M (November 2017). “The pathophysiology, incidence, impact, and treatment of opioid-induced nausea and vomiting”. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 29 (11): 704–710. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12532. PMID 29131554.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Britt H, Fahridin S (September 2007). “Presentations of nausea and vomiting”. Aust Fam Physician. 36 (9): 682–3. PMID 17885697.
  7. ↑ Stern RM, Hu S, LeBlanc R, Koch KL (September 1993). “Chinese hyper-susceptibility to vection-induced motion sickness”. Aviat Space Environ Med. 64 (9 Pt 1): 827–30. PMID 8216144.
  8. ↑ Stern RM, Hu S, Uijtdehaage SH, Muth ER, Xu LH, Koch KL (1996). “Asian hypersusceptibility to motion sickness”. Hum Hered. 46 (1): 7–14. doi:10.1159/000154318. PMID 8825456.
  9. ↑ Haug TT, Mykletun A, Dahl AA (2002). “The prevalence of nausea in the community: psychological, social and somatic factors”. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 24 (2): 81–6. doi:10.1016/s0163-8343(01)00184-0. PMID 11869741.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Louik C, Hernandez-Diaz S, Werler MM, Mitchell AA (July 2006). “Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: maternal characteristics and risk factors”. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 20 (4): 270–8. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3016.2006.00723.x. PMID 16879499.

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