Aims and Objectives: Uninvestigated dyspepsia is one of the common presentation in a surgical department. The prevalence and predictability of the upper gastrointestinal findings in a case of uninvestigated dyspeptic patient based on age and sex of the patient varies. A study was undertaken to study. Age and sex wise occurrence of gastro esophageal reflux disease in our community.

Materials and Methods: Prospective observational study was conducted on 150 patients aged between 18 – 80 years presenting with untreated, uninvestigated and uncomplicated dyspepsia admitted with upper gastrointestinal symptoms .After obtaining ethical committee approval, and getting informed and signed consent from the patients upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy was performed and documented.

Results:                                               

• Highest prevalence of late onset dyspepsia in the age group of 41-50years (24.6%)
• Dyspepsia was more common in males (61.3%) when compared to females
• Clinically significant endoscopic findings were observed in 71.3% of patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia.

Out of 150 patients, there were 92 (61.3%) male patients, 58 (38.7%) female patients, age ranging from 18 years to 80 years. The mean age of the patients in this study with more GERD was found to be between 31 -40 years.

Most patients presented with a complex of three or more dyspeptic symptoms and the symptom profile was not predictive of the endoscopic findings. However, the high prevalence of gastritis (28.7%), suggests that most patients of both sexes presenting with uninvestigated dyspepsia can be safely managed initially with acid suppressive drugs.

Conclusion: Clinically significant endoscopic findings were observed in 71.3% of patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia. Most patients presented with a complex of three or more dyspeptic symptoms and the symptom profile was not predictive of the endoscopic findings. A larger number of inflammatory lesions as a result of increased acid production and low incidence of malignancy in the study group. It is suggested that the uninvestigated patients with dyspepsia may be initially managed medically with acid suppressive therapy.

Endoscopy may be undertaken in patients with recurrent symptoms or in whom drug therapy fails.

Keywords: Upper GI endoscopy; dyspepsia; Gastro eosophageal reflex disease.

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Dr Kamal Kumar. K

Junior Resident, Rajah Muthiah Medical College & Hospital, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India