Approaches to uninvestigated dyspepsia

Abstract

Uninvestigated dyspepsia refers to patients with new or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms in whom no investigations have previously been undertaken. These patients are much more likely to present in primary than in secondary care. It is particularly important to be able to offer effective symptom relief to support the explanation, reassurance, and advice provided to patients, and low dose or standard dose proton pump inhibitor therapy appears to offer the most effective approach to empirical therapy of this kind.

Figure 1

Omeprazole versus cimetidine and omeprazole versus placebo in uninvestigated dyspeptic patients in primary care.¹⁰ APT, all patients treated.

Figure 2

OMEGA study: results at two and four weeks.¹³ APT, all patients treated.

Figure 3

COMPETE study: results at four and 16 weeks.¹⁴

Figure 4

Quality of life before and after treatment of patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia managed in primary care.¹³ PGWB, psychological general well being index; GORD, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.