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. 2023 Jun 17;23:450. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05771-7

Table 3.

Secondary outcomes after randomization to watermelon and dietary advice versus dietary advice only following hospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum

Outcomes Watermelon and dietary advice
n = 64
Dietary advice only
n = 63
RR (95% CI) NNTb (95% CI) P value
Week 1
PUQE-24a score (3 to 15) 6.5 [5–8] 7 [5–8] 0.44
PUQE-24 symptom categorya 0.34
 Mild symptoms 32 (50.0%) 26 (41.3%) 1.23 (0.84–1.81)b 0.29b
 Moderate symptoms 31 (48.4%) 37 (58.7%)
 Severe symptoms 1 (4.7%) 0 (4.7%)
SNAQc score (4 to 16) 14 [11–15] 13 [11–14] 0.20
 Significant risk of weight loss 44 (68.8%) 50 (79.8%) 0.87 (0.70–1.07) 0.17
Wellbeingd score (0 to 10) 7 [6–7.75] 7 [6–7] 0.83
Week 2 -
PUQE-24a score (3 to 15) 5 [3–6] 6 [4–7] 0.042
PUQE-24 symptom categorya 0.086
 Mild symptoms 50 (78.1%) 38 (60.3%) 1.30 (1.02–1.64)b 5.6 (3.0–48.5) 0.03b
 Moderate symptoms 13 (20.3%) 24 (38.1%)
 Severe symptoms 1 (1.6%) 1 (1.6%)
SNAQc score (4 to 16) 15 [14–16] 14 [13–16] 0.015
 Significant risk of weight loss 17 (26.6%) 30 (47.6%) 0.51 (0.32–0.81) 4.7 (2.7–21.4) 0.003
Wellbeingd score (0 to 10) 8 [7–9] 7 [7–8] 0.015
Satisfaction with interventione 7 [6–8] 6 [5–7]  < 0.001
Recommends intervention 54 (84.4%) 44 (65.1%) 1.30 (1.05–1.60) 5.2 (2.9–21.9) 0.012
Rehospitalisationf 6 (9.4%) 6 (9.5%) 0.99 (0.34–2.89) 0.98
Antiemetic stoppage (days) 6 [2–10] 7 [4–13] 0.12
 Antiemetic into week 2 19 (29.7) 27 (42.9) 0.59 (0.42–1.61) 0.12
Regular intake of watermelong 54 (84.4%) g

Data expressed as median {interquartile range] for ordinal or non-normally distributed continuous data and number (%) for categoric data. Analyses performed using Mann Whitney u test for non-normally distributed data or Chi-square test for categoric data. 2-sided analyses P < 0.05 taken as significant for all variables

aPUQE-24 (Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea over 24 h) scoring system for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2009 Sep;31(9):803–807 scored from 3 to 15. Symptoms graded as mild ≤ 6 score, moderate 7–12 score and severe ≥ 13 score

bAnalysis of dichotomized mild compared to moderate-severe symptoms

cSNAQ Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Nov;82(5):1074–81 scored from 4 to 16. Significant risk of weight loss ≤ 14 score

dWellbeing score from 0 to 10 by participants (higher score greater wellbeing)

eSatisfaction score from 0 to 10 by participants (higher score greater satisfaction)

fReadmission for inpatient care in the 2 weeks trial period for hyperemesis gravidarum

gDirected to participants randomized to watermelon arm only