The PUQE-24 score, which stands for the 24-hour Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea, is a tool used to assess the severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, a condition also known as NVP (Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy). This tool is particularly useful for healthcare providers to objectively measure the impact of NVP and to guide treatment decisions.
The PUQE-24 score is based on three simple questions that relate to the patient’s experiences over the last 24 hours. These questions assess:
- The Duration of Nausea: The patient is asked how long they felt nauseated during the day.
- The Number of Vomiting Episodes: This measures how many times the patient has vomited.
- The Number of Gagging or Heaving Episodes: This accounts for the frequency of retching without actual vomiting.
Each of these three symptoms is scored on a scale from 1 to 5, based on its severity or frequency:
- For nausea, a score of 1 indicates no nausea, while a score of 5 indicates nausea that lasts for more than 7 hours.
- For vomiting, a score of 1 indicates no vomiting episodes, while a score of 5 indicates more than 7 vomiting episodes.
- For gagging/heaving, a score of 1 indicates no episodes, while a score of 5 indicates more than 7 episodes.
The scores for each symptom are then added together, giving a total score that ranges from 3 to 15. The total score can be interpreted as follows:
- Mild NVP: Scores between 3-6.
- Moderate NVP: Scores between 7-12.
- Severe NVP: Scores of 13 or higher.
This scoring system helps healthcare providers to quantify the severity of NVP and to monitor changes over time, whether as a natural progression of the condition or in response to treatment. It’s a useful tool for guiding clinical decisions, including the need for medication, hospitalization, or other interventions.