Initial poor quality of life predicts the new onset of dyspepsia: results from a longitudinal ten-year follow-up study

Alexander C Ford ^1*, David Forman ², Alastair G Bailey ¹, Anthony TR Axon ¹ and Paul Moayyedi ³

¹ Leeds General Infirmary, United Kingdom
² Leeds University, United Kingdom
³ McMaster University, Canada

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: alexf12399{at}yahoo.com.

Accepted 1 August 2006

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous studies examining the prevalence and natural history of dyspepsia in the general population have been conducted. However, few have reported the effect of quality of life on the development of dyspepsia. The authors performed a ten-year longitudinal follow-up study examining the effect of quality of life on subsequent dyspepsia.

Methods: Individuals originally enrolled in a population-screening programme for Helicobacter pylori were contacted, via validated postal dyspepsia questionnaire. Baseline demographic data, quality of life at original study entry, and dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom data were already on file. Consent to examine primary care records was sought, and data regarding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and aspirin use were obtained from these.

Results: Of 8,407 individuals originally involved, 3,912 (46.5%) provided symptom data at baseline and ten- year follow-up. Of 2,550 (65%) individuals asymptomatic at study entry 717 (28%) developed new onset dyspepsia at ten years, an incidence of 2.8% per year. Following multivariate logistic regression, lower quality of life at study entry (odds ratio (OR) 2.63; 99% confidence interval (CI) 1.86, 3.71), higher body mass index (OR per unit 1.05; 99% CI 1.02, 1.08), presence of IBS at study entry (OR 3.10; 99% CI 1.51, 6.37), and use of NSAIDs and / or aspirin (OR 1.32; 99% CI 0.99, 1.75) were significant risk factors for new onset dyspepsia.

Conclusions: The incidence of new onset dyspepsia was almost 3% per year. Low quality of life at baseline exerted a strong effect on likelihood of developing dyspepsia at ten years.

Keywords: dyspepsia, incidence, natural history, quality of life

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