title: Do gastrointestinal symptoms fluctuate in the short-term perspective? The Kalixanda study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Short-term fluctuation of gastrointestinal symptoms in the general population is largely unknown. We aimed to determine gastrointestinal symptom fluctuation in an random adult population using a validated questionnaire assessing gastrointestinal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample (n = 2,860) of the population (n = 21,610, 20-81 years of age; mean age 50.4 years) in Northern Sweden was studied. The subjects were asked to complete the questionnaire on two occasions [mean 2.5 months (range 1-6)], firstly via mail and secondly at a visit to the clinic. An upper endoscopy was performed after the last assessment of symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2,122 individuals (74.2%) completed the initial questionnaire; 1,001 of these (mean age 54.1 years, 48.8 males) completed the second questionnaire. On the first occasion, 40% of the subjects were symptom-free (20.2%) or could not be classified according to their symptom pattern, of those with symptoms 39% reported troublesome reflux symptoms, 40% dyspeptic symptoms and 30% irritable bowel symptoms. Symptom overlap occurred in more than two thirds of the subjects. At the second visit 75% of the subjects who had reported dyspeptic complaints still reported such complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population-based study, gastrointestinal symptoms were common. Some symptom fluctuation occurred in the shorter term, but troublesome gastrointestinal complaints remained in approximately 90% of subjects over a 1-6-month period.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Family and Community Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. elisabeth.bolling-sternevald@astrazeneca.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolling-Sternevald
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ronkainen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storskrubb
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Talley
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Junghard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agréus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors