Predictors of gastroparesis in out-patients with secondary and idiopathic upper gastrointestinal symptoms.
BACKGROUND
Delayed gastric emptying occurs frequently in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms associated with functional or organic diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether: (i) the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying is influenced by the presence of organic disease; (ii) demographic or clinical factors predict modestly or markedly (gastroparesis) delayed emptying.


METHODS
A total of 327 consecutive out-patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms.


METHODS
Routine diagnostic work-up and evaluation of demographic factors, gastrointestinal symptom evaluation and scintigraphic gastric emptying of solids were performed.


RESULTS
Organic diseases were detected in 227/327 (65%) patients: 33% had delayed emptying and 20% gastroparesis. Female gender (OR: 2.1; 95% C.I.: 1.3-3.4). overweight (0.5; 0.3-0.9), relevant postprandial fullness (1.8; 1.1-3.2) and relevant epigastric bloating (1.8; 1.1-2.9), but not the presence of organic diseases, were associated with delayed emptying. Female gender (3.9; 1.3-11.9) and relevant postprandial fullness (4.1; 1.7-10.2) were associated with gastroparesis.


CONCLUSIONS
(i) There is a high prevalence of delayed gastric emptying and gastroparesis in out-patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, which is not influenced by the presence of organic disease; (ii) female gender, low body weight, relevant fullness and bloating are associated with delayed emptying; female gender and relevant postprandial fullness predict gastroparesis.
Stanghellini
V
V
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. vstang@med.unibo.it
Tosetti
C
C
Horowitz
M
M
De Giorgio
R
R
Barbara
G
G
Cogliandro
R
R
Cogliandro
L
L
Corinaldesi
R
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology