Uday N Shivaji1, Alexander C Ford1,2. 1. Leeds Gastroenterology Institute, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK. 2. Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Leeds University, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in the community. Many patients will consult a physician in primary care, but the burden that these diseases represent to secondary care has not been studied for many years. We therefore examined this subject. DESIGN: Unselected consecutive new adult patient referrals were recruited during a 3-year period from January 2010 until December 2012. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively and the following data were recorded: age and sex of the patient, symptoms reported or signs noted at the first consultation, all investigations requested and ultimate diagnosis after investigation to the level deemed appropriate by the consulting physician. SETTING: A luminal gastroenterology clinic at a teaching hospital. RESULTS: There were a total of 613 new patient referrals (mean age 54.2 years, 357 (58.2%) female). In total, 214 (34.9%) patients were diagnosed as having an FGID. Among the 214 patients diagnosed with an FGID, 65.9% were female, compared with 54.1% without an FGID (p=0.005). Mean age of those with an FGID was 47.9 years, compared with 57.5 years among those without (p<0.001). The total number of symptoms reported was significantly higher among patients with an FGID, but the total number of investigations did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: More than one-third of new patient referrals to a luminal gastroenterology clinic were diagnosed with an FGID. These conditions form a large part of the workload in secondary care gastroenterology, and primary care commissioning needs to reflect this.
OBJECTIVE:Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in the community. Many patients will consult a physician in primary care, but the burden that these diseases represent to secondary care has not been studied for many years. We therefore examined this subject. DESIGN: Unselected consecutive new adult patient referrals were recruited during a 3-year period from January 2010 until December 2012. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively and the following data were recorded: age and sex of the patient, symptoms reported or signs noted at the first consultation, all investigations requested and ultimate diagnosis after investigation to the level deemed appropriate by the consulting physician. SETTING: A luminal gastroenterology clinic at a teaching hospital. RESULTS: There were a total of 613 new patient referrals (mean age 54.2 years, 357 (58.2%) female). In total, 214 (34.9%) patients were diagnosed as having an FGID. Among the 214 patients diagnosed with an FGID, 65.9% were female, compared with 54.1% without an FGID (p=0.005). Mean age of those with an FGID was 47.9 years, compared with 57.5 years among those without (p<0.001). The total number of symptoms reported was significantly higher among patients with an FGID, but the total number of investigations did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: More than one-third of new patient referrals to a luminal gastroenterology clinic were diagnosed with an FGID. These conditions form a large part of the workload in secondary care gastroenterology, and primary care commissioning needs to reflect this.
Authors: Alexander C Ford; Premysl Bercik; David G Morgan; Carolina Bolino; Maria Ines Pintos-Sanchez; Paul Moayyedi Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2013-08-28 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: William D Chey; Borko Nojkov; Joel H Rubenstein; Richard R Dobhan; Joel K Greenson; Brooks D Cash Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2010-02-23 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: S K Ahlawat; G Richard Locke; A L Weaver; S A Farmer; B P Yawn; N J Talley Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2005-08-01 Impact factor: 8.171
Authors: Brennan M R Spiegel; Mary Farid; Eric Esrailian; Jennifer Talley; Lin Chang Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2010-03-02 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Alexander C Ford; David Forman; Alastair G Bailey; Anthony T R Axon; Paul Moayyedi Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2008-03-26 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Christopher J Black; Peter A Paine; Anurag Agrawal; Imran Aziz; Maria P Eugenicos; Lesley A Houghton; Pali Hungin; Ross Overshott; Dipesh H Vasant; Sheryl Rudd; Richard C Winning; Maura Corsetti; Alexander C Ford Journal: Gut Date: 2022-07-07 Impact factor: 31.793
Authors: Sarah L Alderson; Alexandra Wright-Hughes; Alexander C Ford; Amanda Farrin; Suzanne Hartley; Catherine Fernandez; Christopher Taylor; Pei Loo Ow; Emma Teasdale; Daniel Howdon; Elspeth Guthrie; Robbie Foy; Matthew J Ridd; Felicity L Bishop; Delia Muir; Matthew Chaddock; Amy Herbert; Deborah Cooper; Ruth Gibbins; Sonia Newman; Heather Cook; Roberta Longo; Hazel Everitt Journal: Trials Date: 2022-07-08 Impact factor: 2.728
Authors: Ecushla C Linedale; Muhammad A Shahzad; Andrew R Kellie; Antonina Mikocka-Walus; Peter R Gibson; Jane M Andrews Journal: JGH Open Date: 2017-10-31