THE INCIDENCE OF HYPEREMESIS-GRAVIDARUM IS INCREASED AMONG PACIFIC ISLANDERS LIVING IN WELLINGTON

Aims. To compare the incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum among Pacific Islanders living in Wellington with nonPacific Islanders and to inves tigate some properties of the disorder. Methods. Data were collected o n all first time admissions to Wellington Women's Hospital for hyperem esis gravidarum over a 5-year period. Women were classified as having severe hyperemesis gravidarum if abnormalities of serum electrolytes a nd liver function tests results were present and as less severe if the se abnormalities were absent. Almost all women had ketonuria. Mantel-H aenszel odds ratios, chi(2) analysis and Fisher's 2-tailed exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results. The proportion of hyperem esis gravidarum patients who were Pacific Islanders was significantly increased when compared to their proportion in a control group (p<0.01 ). The difference remained significant when the hyperemesis patients w ere divided into less and more severe. Abnormal thyroid function test results were more common among Pacific Island patients than among nonP acific Island patients. This difference was significant (p<0.01) only in the less severe group. Conclusion. The incidence of hyperemesis gra vidarum is significantly increased among Pacific Island women (especia lly Samoans) living in Wellington and is often associated with abnorma lities of thyroid function test results.