A Retrospective Observational Study of Gender Differences in Clinical Presentation and Endoscopic Findings of Dyspepsia Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Dyspepsia is a common disorder affecting 23-45% population, globally. Dyspepsia presents with several clinical dilemmas. Clinically Dyspepsia is defined as one or more clinical symptoms of burning, early satiation, epigastric pain and postprandial fullness. Several studies refereed it to upper abdominal discomfort that specifically arises from upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In latest literature, bloating and nausea also coexist with dyspepsia, however, heart burn is excluded from dyspepsia diagnostic criteria due to primary initiation from esophagus leading towards gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at single Gastroenterology center, Jammu from January 2016 to December 2020. A sample size of 200 patients was calculated to estimate the gender differences in clinical presentation and endoscopic findings of dyspepsia. Patients were selected using non probability consecutive sampling. Patients with age 16-75 years, both genders, epigastralgia/epigastric burning that last for minimum 3 months and occurrence of symptoms at least 6 months before were included in study. Results: Female predominance is more in endoscopic findings of dyspepsia patients. Erosive Antral Gastritis were observed in 50 females, 30 males. Erosive Gastritis were observed in 12 females and 9 male patients. Mild Antral Gastritis were observed in 18 male and 15 female patients. Conclusion: Thus, we conclude that dyspepsia is a common indication for endoscopy. The frequency of female subjects is higher and gastritis is the most common pathology followed by reflux esophagitis. These were associated with increasing age. GI malignancy was uncommon and higher in elderly patients. The upper GI endoscopy is the gold standard first line investigation for evaluating dyspepsia and is the investigation of choice for targeting therapy. Though it is an invasive procedure, dyspeptic patients with alarm symptoms must be evaluated with upper GI endoscopy.