Brief Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2013; 19(32): 5357-5364
Published online Aug 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i32.5357
Gastrointestinal symptoms and associated factors in Chinese patients with functional dyspepsia
Jiao Yu, Shi Liu, Xiu-Cai Fang, Jun Zhang, Jun Gao, Ying-Lian Xiao, Li-Ming Zhu, Fen-Rong Chen, Zhao-Shen Li, Pin-Jin Hu, Mei-Yun Ke, Xiao-Hua Hou
Jiao Yu, Shi Liu, Xiao-Hua Hou, Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Xiu-Cai Fang, Li-Ming Zhu, Mei-Yun Ke, Division of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
Jun Zhang, Fen-Rong Chen, Division of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
Jun Gao, Zhao-Shen Li, Division of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Ying-Lian Xiao, Pin-Jin Hu, Division of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Liu S and Fang XC contributed to the design of this study; Yu J analyzed data and wrote the manuscript; Liu S supervised the preparation of the manuscript; all the other authors contributed to acquisition of data.
Supported by Project of the National Key Technologies R and D Program in the 11th Five-Year Plan, No. 2007BAI04B01 and partially supported by Xi’an-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd
Correspondence to: Shi Liu, MD, Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jie Fang Road, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. shiliugao@yahoo.com
Telephone: +86-27-85726678 Fax: +86-27-85726930
Received: March 13, 2013
Revised: June 15, 2013
Accepted: July 18, 2013
Published online: August 28, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To study the evolution of gastrointestinal symptoms and associated factors in Chinese patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).

METHODS: From June 2008 to November 2009, a total of 1049 patients with FD (65.3% female, mean age 42.80 ± 11.64 years) who visited the departments of gastroenterology in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xi’an, China were referred for this study. All of the patients fulfilled the Rome III criteria for FD. Baseline demographic data, dyspepsia symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep disorder, and drug treatment were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Patients completed questionnaires at baseline and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 mo follow-up. Comparison of dyspepsia symptoms between baseline and after follow-up was explored using multivariate analysis of variance of repeated measuring. Multiple linear regression was done to examine factors associated with outcome, both longitudinally and horizontally.

RESULTS: Nine hundred and forty-three patients (89.9% of the original population) completed all four follow-ups. The average duration of follow-up was 12.24 ± 0.59 mo. During 1-year follow-up, the mean dyspeptic symptom score (DSS) in FD patients showed a significant gradually reduced trend (P < 0.001), and similar differences were found for all individual symptoms (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that sex (P < 0.001), anxiety (P = 0.018), sleep disorder at 1-year follow-up (P = 0.019), weight loss (P < 0.001), consulting a physician (P < 0.001), and prokinetic use during 1-year follow-up (P = 0.035) were horizontally associated with DSS at 1-year follow-up. No relationship was found longitudinally between DSS at 1-year follow-up and patient characteristics at baseline.

CONCLUSION: Female sex, anxiety, and sleep disorder, weight loss, consulting a physician and prokinetic use during 1-year follow-up were associated with outcome of FD.

Keywords: Functional dyspepsia, Gastrointestinal symptoms, Dyspeptic symptom score, Helicobacter pylori infection, Postprandial distress syndrome, Epigastric pain syndrome, Rome III criteria

Core tip: This is a prospective study with Chinese patients to explore the clinical course of functional dyspepsia (FD), and evaluate the potential risk factors associated with it, using the Rome III criteria both longitudinally and horizontally. The sample size in this study was large and there was a good response rate. The mean dyspepsia symptom score for both total and individual symptoms showed a significant gradually reduced trend. Female sex, anxiety, and sleep disorder, weight loss, consulting a physician and prokinetic use during 1-year follow-up were associated with the outcome of FD.