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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Nausea and vomiting epidemiology and demographics

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Epidemiology and demographics

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

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.