Prevalence of lower gastrointestinal symptoms and associated consultation behaviour in a British elderly population determined by face-to-face interview.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of organic lower gastrointestinal disease increases with age. However, the prevalence of lower gastrointestinal symptoms in a British elderly population is unclear, with previous epidemiological studies focusing on younger populations. Furthermore, there is little information about consultation behaviour associated with lower gastrointestinal symptoms.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of lower gastrointestinal symptoms reported by randomly selected, elderly community subjects.


METHODS
An age- and sex-stratified random sample of patients aged 65 years and over was drawn from a general practice register (n = 842). Those who had not refused to participate in an initial postal survey were invited to participate in a semi-structured physician interview at their own home to assess lower gastrointestinal symptomatology (n = 745). Non-participation bias and service use of all subjects were assessed from practice records.


RESULTS
Five hundred and ninety-six (71%) patients were interviewed. Fifty-seven per cent of all participants had at least one lower gastrointestinal symptom. Individual symptoms and symptom complexes were common, affecting up to 32% of subjects. Only 24% of subjects with lower gastrointestinal symptoms consulted their general practitioner (GP) with such symptoms in the previous year. As few as 31% of subjects with new onset of the significant symptoms of rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and a change in bowel habit consulted their GP.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower gastrointestinal symptoms are common in a British elderly population and an important reason for GP consultation.
Chaplin
A
A
University of Newcastle Regional School of Medicine, North Tyneside General Hospital, Tyne and Wear.
Curless
R
R
Thomson
R
R
Barton
R
R
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology