Twelve‐hour fasting compared with expedited oral intake in the initial inpatient management of hyperemesis gravidarum: a randomised trial

Objective To evaluate fasting for 12 hours compared with expedited oral feeding in hospitalised women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Design Randomised trial. Setting University Hospital, Malaysia: April 2016–April 2017. Population One hundred and sixty women hospitalised for HG. Method Women were randomised upon admission to fasting for 12 hours or expedited oral feeding. Standard HG care was instituted. Main outcome measure Primary outcome was satisfaction score with overall treatment at 24 hours (0–10 Visual Numerical Rating Scale VNRS), vomiting episodes within 24 hours and nausea VNRS score at enrolment, and at 8, 16 and 24 hours. Results Satisfaction score, median (interquartile range) 8 (5–9) versus 8 (7–9) (P = 0.08) and 24‐hour vomiting episodes were 1 (0–4) versus 1 (0–5) (P = 0.24) for 12‐hour fasting versus expedited feeding, respectively. Repeated measures analysis of variance of nausea scores over 24 hours showed no difference (P = 0.11) between trial arms. Participants randomised to 12‐hour fasting compared with expedited feeding were less likely to prefer their feeding regimen in future hospitalisation (41% versus 65%, P = 0.001), to recommend to a friend (65% versus 84%, P = 0.01; RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6–0.9) and to adhere to protocol (85% versus 95%, P = 0.04; RR 0.9, 95% CI 0.8–1.0). Symptoms profile, ketonuria status at 24 hours and length of hospital stay were not different. Conclusion Advisory of 12‐hour fasting compared with immediate oral feeding resulted in a non‐significant difference in satisfaction score but adherence to protocol and fidelity to and recommendation of immediate oral feeding to a friend were lower. The 24‐hour nausea scores and vomiting episodes were similar. Tweetable Women hospitalised for hyperemesis gravidarum could feed as soon, as much and as often as can be tolerated compared with initial fasting. Tweetable Women hospitalised for hyperemesis gravidarum could feed as soon, as much and as often as can be tolerated compared with initial fasting.