Authors: CHITKARA, D. K.; BREDENOORD, A. J.; RUCKER, M. J.; TALLEY, N. J.

Source: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 22, Number 9, November 2005 , pp. 855-858(4)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary Background

: Aerophagia is a functional upper gastrointestinal disorder that has not previously been well described in a large patient group. Aims

: To describe the initial evaluation of patients who presented with symptoms of aerophagia at a tertiary medical centre. Methods

: A computerized search was used to identify all patients who were diagnosed with aerophagia at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester between 1996 and 2003 (n = 79). Individual medical charts were abstracted for information on the demographics, clinical features, co-morbid diagnoses, diagnostic workup and treatment. Information on presenting symptoms was also collected for a group of patients who were classified as having functional dyspepsia for comparison (n = 121). Results

: The median duration of symptoms in patients with aerophagia was 24 months. The most common symptoms were belching (56%), abdominal pain (19%), bloating (27%) and abdominal distension (19%). Patients with functional dyspepsia had a higher prevalence of reporting nausea, vomiting, early satiety, weight loss and abdominal pain (all P < 0.01, adjusting for age, gender and body mass index). Significantly more patients with aerophagia had anxiety (19%) than those with functional dyspepsia (6%, P < 0.01). Conclusions

: Individuals with aerophagia experience prolonged upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Initial presenting symptoms appear to be distinctly different from those who have functional dyspepsia.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02651.x

Publication date: 2005-11-01

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• In this Subject: Pathology ,  Pharmacology ,  Surgery ,  Therapeutics & Alternative Medicine
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