title: Epidemiology of functional dyspepsia and subgroups in the Italian general population: an endoscopic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Population-based endoscopic studies are needed to assess the epidemiology of functional dyspepsia (FD) and the newly suggested subgroups of meal-related symptoms and epigastric pain. We evaluated the prevalence of, and risk factors for, FD in the Italian general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1533 inhabitants of 2 villages were invited to undergo symptom evaluation using a validated questionnaire, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and (13)C-urea breath test; 1033 subjects (67.4%) took part.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1033 subjects, 156 (15.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.9-17.3) had dyspepsia, and of these 114 (11%; 95% CI, 9.2-12.9) had FD. Of the 114 subjects with FD, 77 (67.5%) had meal-related symptoms (postprandial fullness and/or early satiation) and 55 (48.2%) had epigastric pain. Only 18 subjects (15.8%) had both meal-related symptoms and epigastric pain; this was fewer than expected by chance alone (P < .001). Unemployment (odds ratio [OR], 5.80; 95% CI, 1.56-21.60), divorce (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.10-6.91), smoking (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.11-2.70), and irritable bowel syndrome (OR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.85-6.19) were significantly associated with FD. Unemployment, divorce, and irritable bowel syndrome were associated with both meal-related symptoms and epigastric pain, while smoking was associated only with meal-related symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FD is present in 11% of the Italian general population. Unemployment and divorce seem to increase the risk of FD, and smoking seems to be associated with meal-related symptoms. Two distinct subgroups of FD, as suggested by Rome III, seem to exist in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco Maurizio
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zagari
authors.forename: Graham Richard
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuccio
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cennamo
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gilthorpe
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bazzoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors