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Dyspepsia and prevalence of clinically significant endoscopy findings in a gastroenterology referral clinic in Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: The clinical features and endoscopic findings of dyspepsia are not well studied in Ethiopia. Dyspepsia is the predominant presentation of patients to Gastrointestinal (GI) Clinics in our country and Endoscopic findings are not routinely recommended to patients. Yet, identifying which patients need an urgent Endoscopy diagnosis is important to diagnose organic causes at an earlier stage. This study assessed the prevalence of dyspepsia, associated factors, and clinically significant endoscopic findings and alarm symptoms in referral GI clinic in Ethiopia
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional record review was conducted among adults who came with complaints of dyspepsia from September 1, 2015, to August 31, 2017 at St Paul hospital millennium medical college GI clin-ic. SPSS version 23 was utilized for data analysis. Descriptive data are presented as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. To see the effect of each independent variable on the outcome, binary logistic regression was used, and the strength of the association was assessed by computing odds ratio. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: From 3542 patients seen at GI clinic, dyspepsia was diagnosed in 418 i.e. in 21.6% of cases. The endoscopic diagnosis showed a high prevalence of gastric cancer of 8.8%. Functional dyspepsia was diagnosed in 15.5% and a high prevalence of non-specific Gastro-duodenitis were reported, especially in younger cases with no associated alarm symptoms. Anemia and weight loss were independent predictors for organic causes.
Conclusion: Weight loss and anemia were important predictor of gastric cancer and should alarm physicians for an early endoscopy in these patients. The study also supports to restrict upper GI endoscopy in individuals <45 years of age and no alarm symptoms.
