Evaluation of controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in the prognosis of hyperemesis gravidarum

To investigate the predictive value of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) severity, hospitalization, and length of stay.

This retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted between December 2022 and June 2023, involved two groups. Group 1 comprised 52 pregnant women diagnosed with HG in the first trimester, receiving hospitalization and treatment. Group 2 included 105 pregnant women diagnosed with HG in the first trimester, managed and treated as outpatients. The CONUT score was calculated with the formula: Serum albumin score + total lymphocyte score + total cholesterol score. This score is calculated with a number of points between 0 and 12. The interpretation of the score involves four categories: normal (0–1), light (2–4), moderate (5–8), and severe (9–12).

The CONUT score differed significantly between the hospitalized (4, IQR: 2.25–5) and outpatient groups (2, IQR: 2–3) (p < 0.001). A CONUT score >3 was associated with the need for hospitalization, demonstrating a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 84% (p < 0.001). The CONUT score was the parameter with the highest odds ratio (OR) value among the parameters related to the need for hospitalization, and each unit increase in the CONUT score increased the need for hospitalization by 1.683 times [OR = 1.683 (95% CI: 1.042–2.718), p = 0.033]. A positive correlation was found between the CONUT score and the duration of hospital stay (r = 0.316, p = 0.023).

This study suggests CONUT score as a valuable tool for predicting HG severity, hospitalization need, and duration of hospital stay.