Gastrointestinal symptoms and associated factors in Chinese patients with functional dyspepsia

Table 1 Demographics and baseline characteristics of patients who completed all four follow-ups compared with those who were lost to follow-up

Characteristic	Complete all four follow-ups (n = 943)	Lost to follow-up (n =106)	P value
Sex (female)	603 (63.9)	82 (77.4)	0.006
Smoker	202 (21.4)	16 (15.1)	0.128
Alcohol user	278 (29.5)	15 (14.2)	0.001
Marital status (married)	815 (86.4)	95 (89.6)	0.357
Physical labor			0.537
High	34 (3.6)	3 (2.8)
Medium	238 (25.2)	31 (29.2)
Low	671 (71.2)	72 (67.9)
Life satisfaction
High	171 (18.1)	13 (12.3)	0.292
Medium	732 (77.6)	90 (84.9)
Low	40 (4.2)	3 (2.8)
Educational level			0.011
High	336 (35.6)	28 (26.4)
Medium	455 (48.3)	51 (48.1)
Low	152 (16.1)	27 (25.5)
Economic situation			0.03
Rich	40 (4.2)	3 (2.8)
Sufficient	405 (42.9)	34 (32.1)
Well-off	469 (49.7)	67 (63.2)
Poor	29 (3.1)	2 (1.9)
BMI (kg/m2)			0.071
Obesity	138 (14.6)	10 (9.4)
Normal	709 (75.2)	81 (76.4)
Thin	96 (10.2)	15 (14.2)
Bowel symptom	176 (18.7)	23 (21.7)	0.45
H. pylori status (positive)	230 (24.4)	22 (20.8)	0.14
Consulting a physician	908 (96.3)	91 (85.8)	< 0.001
Mean age (yr)	42.99 ± 11.74	41.11 ± 10.65	0.116
DSS	22.05 ± 9.89	20.25 ± 10.77	0.079

Data are expressed as absolute numbers (percentage) or mean ± SD. Significant variables in italic/bold (P < 0.05); BMI: Body mass index calculated; H.pylori: Helicobacter pylori; DSS: Dyspeptic symptom score.