title: Changes of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings in Japan over 25 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Japan, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection has decreased recently, but there has been little longitudinal research on the changes of symptoms and endoscopic findings over many years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in endoscopic findings and symptoms over time in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for assessment of upper abdominal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a period of 25 years, between 1981 and 2005, we performed three investigations (1981-2, 1990-1 and 2004-5) on the symptoms and endoscopic findings of patients undergoing endoscopy at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital for the assessment of upper abdominal symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common complaint for all ages was "discomfort and/or pain". Over time, the percentage of patients complaining of "heartburn" increased almost 5-fold. With respect to endoscopic findings, the prevalence of peptic ulcers decreased, whereas the detection of no abnormalities and the detection of erosive esophagitis increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the future in Japan, there will be fewer patients with peptic ulcers and more patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease or dyspeptic patients who display no endoscopic abnormal findings.
authors: Division of Endoscopy and Ultrasonography, Department of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Japan. n_manabe@hkg.odn.ne.jp
authors: Noriaki
authors: N
authors: Manabe
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Haruma
authors: Tomoari
authors: T
authors: Kamada
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Kusunoki
authors: Kazuhiko
authors: K
authors: Inoue
authors: Takahisa
authors: T
authors: Murao
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Imamura
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Ken-ichi
authors: K
authors: Tarumi
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Shiotani
authors: Jiro
authors: J
authors: Hata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041742:Upper Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology*