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Stomach
Age and alarm symptoms do not predict endoscopic findings among patients with dyspepsia: a multicentre database study
  1. M B Wallacea,
  2. V L Durkalskia,
  3. J Vaughana,
  4. Y Y Palescha,
  5. E D Libbyd,
  6. P S Jowelle,
  7. N J Nicklb,
  8. S M Schutzc,
  9. J W Leungf,
  10. P B Cottona
  1. aDigestive Disease Center, Medical University of South Carolina, USA, bUniversity of Kentucky Medical Center, USA, cWilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center, USA, dTufts-New England Medical Center, USA, eDurham Veterans Administration Medical Center, USA, fUniversity of California, Davis Medical Center, USA
  1. MB Wallace, Digestive Disease Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St, 210 Clinical Sciences Building, PO Box 250327, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Symptoms of dyspepsia are common but most patients do not have major upper gastrointestinal pathology. Endoscopy is recommended for dyspeptic patients over the age of 45, or those with certain “alarm” symptoms. We have evaluated the effectiveness of age and “alarm” symptoms for predicting major endoscopic findings in six practising endoscopy centres.

METHODS Clinical variables of consecutive patients with dyspepsia symptoms undergoing upper endoscopy examinations were recorded using a common endoscopy database. Patients who had no previous upper endoscopy or barium radiography were included. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of endoscopic findings. The accuracy of these for predicting endoscopic findings was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of age thresholds from 30 to 70 years were evaluated.

RESULTS Major pathology (tumour, ulcer, or stricture) was found at endoscopy in 787/3815 (21%) patients with dyspepsia. Age, male sex, bleeding, and anaemia were found to be significant but weak independent predictors of endoscopic findings. A multivariate prediction rule based on these factors had poor predictive accuracy (c statistic=0.62). Using a simplified prediction rule of age ⩾45 years or the presence of any “alarm” symptom, sensitivity was 87% and specificity was 26%. Increasing or decreasing the age cut off did not significantly improve the predictive accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS Age and the presence of “alarm” symptoms are not effective predictors of endoscopic findings among patients with dyspepsia. Better clinical prediction strategies are needed to identify patients with significant upper gastrointestinal pathology.

  • dyspepsia
  • endoscopy
  • age

  • Abbreviations used in this paper

    ASA
    American Society of Anesthesia
    ROC
    receiver operating characteristic

    • https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.49.1.29

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    • Abbreviations used in this paper

      ASA
      American Society of Anesthesia
      ROC
      receiver operating characteristic
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