Citations

AbstractBackgroundSymptoms suggestive of gastroparesis are non‐specific and conflicting reports exist regarding the ability of symptoms to predict the presence of gastroparesis. Our aim, therefore, was to evaluate the relationships between gastroparetic symptoms and their impact on quality of life and determine their relationship with clinical factors and gastric emptying.MethodsGastric emptying scintigraphy, sociodemographic features, health care resource utilization, gastroparetic symptoms, and quality of life using validated questionnaires were obtained from consecutive patients referred for gastric emptying testing (GET). Descriptive analyses were conducted and logistic regression was performed to evaluate associations with abnormal gastric emptying after controlling for other covariates.Key ResultsTwo hundred and sixty‐six patients participated (195 females; mean age, 49.1 ± 17.6 years); 75% met Rome III criteria for functional dyspepsia. Gastric emptying was delayed in 28.2% at 4 h; the delay was mild in 48%, moderate in 20% and severe in 32%. Nausea/emesis and postprandial fullness, but not bloating, were significantly greater in those with delayed emptying. Postprandial fullness was most severe. Weak correlations were identified between symptom severity and the severity of gastric emptying delay. Quality of life was also lower in the delayed emptying group. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated associations between delayed gastric emptying and lower quality of life and increased symptom severity.Conclusions & InferencesIn patients referred for GET, gastroparetic symptoms were more severe in those with delayed emptying. A decrease in quality of life in those with delayed gastric emptying was also present; this was not related to the severity of the delay in gastric emptying.

AbstractBackgroundThere have been conflicting results from studies that have evaluated psychological disturbances in functional dyspepsia (FD). We conducted a comprehensive survey of psychological measures in patients undergoing gastric emptying testing (GET) in order to determine the relationship among psychological distress, gastric emptying, and dyspeptic symptoms.MethodsConsecutive patients referred for GET were prospectively enrolled. Details regarding patient characteristics, health care utilization, dyspeptic symptoms, quality of life, and psychological dysfunction were obtained. Depression, anxiety, somatization, stress, positive and negative affect, and alexithymia were queried using validated questionnaires. We compared those dyspeptic patients who met Rome III criteria for FD to those who did not meet these criteria.Key ResultsTwo hundred and nine patients (160 female; mean age 46.6 years ± 17.3 years) participated. Around 151 patients (72%) met Rome III criteria for FD. In the entire group, a high level of depression, anxiety, somatization, and perceived stress was present compared to population norms. Health care seeking behavior and symptom severity were greater in those with FD and quality of life was lower compared to non‐FD. Gastric emptying did not differentiate the two groups and similar degrees of psychological distress were present whether emptying was delayed or normal.Conclusions & InferencesIn patients referred for GET, substantial psychological distress is present. The degree of distress was similar regardless of whether the patient met Rome III FD criteria or not. Further evaluation of psychological dysfunction in FD patients may lead to improved diagnosis and determination of the most appropriate treatment.

SummaryBackgroundObesity is associated with increased oesophageal acid exposure time (AET) in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux (GER), and may decrease the effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).AimTo evaluate the effects of increased body mass on the ability of PPI therapy to decrease AET in patients with reflux symptoms.MethodsAcid exposure time profiles collected from adult patients using wireless pH‐metry while on or off PPI therapy was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were separated into five body mass index (BMI) categories as defined by the World Health Organization. A multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association between abnormal AET and BMI groups while controlling for age, gender and pH capsule placement methods.ResultsThe study group comprised 968 patients with 336 (34.7%) studied on a PPI and 632 (65.3%) studied off PPI therapy. AET (total greater than 5.3%) was found more frequently in the overweight (67%) and obese classes (74–80%) compared to those who were normal weight (40%) while off acid‐suppressing medications (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between these groups when studied on acid‐suppressing medications, and the proportion of patients with abnormal AET across BMI classes was similar regardless of taking a PPI either once or twice daily.ConclusionsThis is the largest study to report on the relationship between BMI and oesophageal acid exposure time in patients with GER on and off PPI therapy. We conclude that obesity is related to increased acid exposure time, but with no significant difference in acid exposure time among different weight‐based groups when taking a once or twice‐daily PPI.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with gastrointestinal (GI) involvement have a lower quality of life (QoL) and while the impact of upper GI symptoms on QoL in SSc patients has been described few data exist on the presence and impact of lower gastrointestinal (LGI) and pelvic floor symptoms in SSc. Our goal was to assess the prevalence of these symptoms in women with SSc and evaluate their impact on QoL. A secondary hypothesis was that the impact of LGI symptoms on QoL is mediated by depression. Study: Women with SSc (n=175) attending an outpatient scleroderma clinic completed multiple validated questionnaires. Pelvic floor and LGI symptoms included fecal incontinence (FI), urinary incontinence (UI), dual incontinence (DI), chronic constipation, diarrhea, and pelvic pain. The Student t tests adjusted for multiple comparisons were used to evaluate group differences at the 0.05 level. Results: Complete data were available for 160 women. FI was reported by 65, UI by 64, DI by 40, chronic constipation by 94, diarrhea by 82, and pelvic pain by 35 of SSc patients. Overall QoL was reduced in SSc patients with FI (0.96 vs. 0.63; P=0.007), UI (0.96 vs. 0.65; P=0.01), DI (1.11 vs. 0.67; P=0.002), and pelvic pain (1.01 vs. 0.70; P=0.04). Antidepressant use was reported by 26%. The negative impact on QoL in patients with pelvic floor symptoms was partially mediated by depression. Conclusions: Women with SSc suffer from an increased prevalence of LGI and pelvic floor symptoms including FI, UI, diarrhea, constipation, and pelvic pain and this effect seems to be partially mediated by depression.