Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Choi, Hwang; Choi, Myung Gyu; Kim, Sang Woo; Moon, Sung Bae; Kim, Bo Kyoung; Kim, Byung Wook; Kim, Jae Kwang; Han, Sok Won; Choi, Kyu Yong; Chung, In Sik; Chung, Kyu Won; Sun, Hee Sik

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) comprise a large proportion of primary care and gastroenterology practice. In the United States and other Western countries, the prevalence of FGID varies from 10% to 44% according to populations and diagnostic criteria. The aim of this study were to evaluate the frequency of FGID in the patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and to compare the frequencies in primary care clinics and tertiary hospital.
METHODS
A valid ques tionnaire based on fulfillment of multinational diagnostic (Rome) criteria was used for 198 patients visiting primary care clinics and 104 patients of tertiary hospital.
RESULTS
Fifteen patients (5%) complained of heartburn which happened more than once a week and was severe to interrupt socia activity. Functional dyspepsia was noted in 119 patients (39.4%). Ulcer-like dyspepsia (15%) was nearly two times common than dysmotility-like dyspepsia (8%) in primary care clinic. On the othe hand, dysmotility-like dyspepsia was relatively common, compared with ulcer-like dyspepsia in tertiary hospital (16% vs 13%). The frequency of irritable bowel syndrome was 27.8%.
CONCLUSIONS
Functional dyspepsia is the most common FGID in Korea. The second most common FGID is ulcer-like subtype in primary care clinics but dysmotility-like subtype in tertiary hospital.