Prognosis in dyspeptic patients under the age of fifty-five

BACKGROUND: We studied the evolution and diagnostic tests performed in patients with dyspepsia aged less than 55 years. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We included 289 patients under age 55 with clinically manifest dyspepsia who were referred for specialized digestive evaluation from the primary care setting. RESULTS: One half of patients consulted again in the course of the study for the same symptoms. In 131 patients (45%), an endoscopy was proposed at some stage during the study. Gastroduodenal pathology was identified in 37% of the patients who underwent an endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: In these patients, the approach adopted by the gastroenterologist must comprise assessment of the symptoms with endoscopy.