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Uninvestigated Dyspepsia in Latin America: A Population-Based Study

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Abstract

We sought to assess the prevalence, severity of symptoms, and risk factors of uninvestigated dyspepsia in a population-based study in Argentina. Eight hundred thirty-nine valid questionnaires were evaluated. Dyspepsia was present in 367 subjects (43.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 39.8–46.6); 110 (13.6%) had overlap with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The group with dyspepsia without GERD consisted of 257 subjects (29.6%; 95% CI, 26.5–32.7), 183 (71.1%) had ulcer-like dyspepsia, and 74 (28.9%) had dysmotility-like dyspepsia. Symptoms were considered very severe in 1.9%, severe in 14.0%, moderate in 59.5%, and mild in 24.5% of the subjects. Dyspepsia was associated with a score >14 on the psychosomatic symptom scale (PSC) (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.75–3.61), a family history of diseases of the esophagus or stomach (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.19–2.52) and an educational level >12 years (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.05–2.29). Dyspepsia is especially prevalent in Argentina. In a significant proportion of dyspeptic subjects, the severity of symptoms interferes with daily activities. A higher PSC, positive family history, and a higher educational level are risk factors for dyspepsia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thanks Mayo Clinic for granting permission to use the Gastro-esophageal Reflux Questionnaire.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Arenales 3569 3rd floor, dpt B., 1425 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Jorge A. Olmos, Valeria Pogorelsky, Federico Tobal & Mariano Marcolongo

  2. Hospital Posadas, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Graciela Salis, Roberto Higa & Juan Carlos Chiocca

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  1. Jorge A. Olmos
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  2. Valeria Pogorelsky
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  3. Federico Tobal
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  4. Mariano Marcolongo
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  5. Graciela Salis
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  7. Juan Carlos Chiocca
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Correspondence to Jorge A. Olmos.

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Olmos, J.A., Pogorelsky, V., Tobal, F. et al. Uninvestigated Dyspepsia in Latin America: A Population-Based Study. Dig Dis Sci 51, 1922–1929 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9241-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9241-y

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