title: The influence of race on symptom severity and quality of life in gastroparesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The majority of clinical studies for gastroparesis have primarily included white women. Our aim was to compare the etiology, clinical characteristics, healthcare utilization, symptom profile, and quality of life (QOL) in white and nonwhite patients with gastroparesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newly referred patients with gastroparesis completed: (1) a comprehensive demographic profile, (2) the Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorder Symptoms (PAGI-SYM), and (3) the Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders QOL (PAGI-QOL). All patients had confirmed delayed gastric emptying as measured by 4-hour scintigraphy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 255 patients were enrolled; mean age was 42.5 years and 83.3% were females. There were 44 (17%) nonwhites (33 African American and 11 Hispanic) and 211 (83%) whites. The proportion of nonwhite patients with gastroparesis secondary to diabetes was 55% compared with 19% of white patients (P<0.001). The total PAGI-SYM score was higher in nonwhite patients. Nonwhite patients had higher PAGI-SYM subscale scores for nausea/vomiting, upper abdominal pain, and lower abdominal pain. The 2 groups differed in health care utilization: 49% of nonwhite patients reported ≥4 gastroparesis-related emergency department visits and 42% reported more ≥4 gastroparesis-related hospitalizations, as compared with 20% and 14% of white patients, respectively. Total PAGI-QOL scores were lower in nonwhite patients. Linear regression showed that nonwhite race, sex, age, and age of onset were independently associated with symptom scores, whereas etiology of gastroparesis and gastric emptying times were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nonwhite patients with gastroparesis had more severe symptoms, poorer QOL, and utilized more health care resources than white. Nonwhites were more likely to have diabetes as the etiology.
authors: Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Section, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
authors: Frank K
authors: FK
authors: Friedenberg
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Kowalczyk
authors: Henry P
authors: HP
authors: Parkman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data