The association between the hyperemesis level prediction score and nutritional intake in the first trimester in a pregnancy sickness cohort

Kate Maslin; Caitlin Dean; Jill Shawe

doi:10.1530/repabs.4.003

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Reproduction Abstracts (2025) 4 003 | DOI: 10.1530/repabs.4.003

ICHG2024 International Colloquium on Hyperemesis Gravidarum 2024 Abstracts (22 abstracts)

The association between the hyperemesis level prediction score and nutritional intake in the first trimester in a pregnancy sickness cohort

Kate Maslin ^1,* , Caitlin Dean ^2,3 & Jill Shawe ^1,4

Author affiliations

¹University of Plymouth, Devon, UK; ²UK Pregnancy Sickness Support Charity, Bodmin, UK; ³Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; ⁴Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust, Truro, UK;
Email Address: [email protected] (Kate Maslin)

A total of 166 participants were recruited at a median gestation of 8 (IQR 3) weeks, with 84.2% (n=139) being multiparous. Among them, 19.9% (n = 43), 46.8% (n = 101), and 10.2% (n = 22) experienced mild, moderate, and severe HELP symptoms, respectively. Seventy participants completed the food diary. The total HELP score was inversely moderately correlated with energy (rho=-0.572, P < 0.001), protein (rho=-0.509, P < 0.001), and vitamin C intakes (rho=-0.516, P < 0.001). Weaker inverse correlations were observed for iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B12 intakes (rho < 0.4, P < 0.001 for all). Responses to the statement "I have been able to eat/drink and keep it down" showed a strong inverse association with energy intake (rho=-0.650, P < 0.001) and moderate associations with protein, iron, calcium, zinc, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamins B12 and C (rho between -0.4 to -0.6, P < 0.001 for all). These findings suggest that the HELP score is a moderately strong proxy measurement for energy and protein intake in the first trimester. However, a more detailed dietary analysis is required to accurately assess micronutrient intakes.

Keywords: Hyperemesis Gravidarum, HELP Score, Nutritional Intake, Pregnancy, Energy Intake, Micronutrients, Diet Diary