International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Ethnic peculiarities of the North native inhabitants health

Objectives: To study the prevalence of dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in native rural population of Yakutia and to compare symptoms with endoscopic findings.

Materials and Methods: All residents aged 45-70 years in two rural settlements situated about 200 km from Yakutsk were invited to participate. Response rate was 50%. 107 participants completed Bowel Disease Questionnaire, and 40 randomly selected persons underwent upper endoscopy. Dyspepsia was defined as upper abdominal pain or discomfort on more that six occasions during the previous year, and GER was defined as heartburn or/and acid regurgitation at least once a month.

Results: Dyspepsia was reported by 30.8% of participants (28.8% in males and 33.3% in females, p = 0.62). GER was found in 30.8% (27.1% in males and 35.4% in females, p = 0.36). GER was more frequently found in subjects with dyspepsia than without it (54.5% and 20.3% respectively, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the frequency of symptoms between age groups (45-60 and 61-70 years). Endoscopy revealed esophageal cancer (1 case), non-erosive (6) and erosive esophagitis (3). In the stomach, gastritis (40), peptic ulcer (4), and gastric erosions (7) were found. In the duodenum endoscopy revealed duodenitis (32), erosions (4), peptic ulcer (1). In subjects with endoscopic esophagitis, dyspepsia was reported with the same frequency as compared to subjects without esophagitis, however, GER on a weekly basis was found only in persons with esophagitis. Dyspepsia and GER were more often associated with gastric erosions than with gastritis (57.1% and 71.4% vs 35.0% and 35.0%). Dyspepsia was associated with duodenitis but not with duodenal erosions, however GER was more common in subjects with duodenal erosions and ulcer.

Conclusions: Symptoms of dyspepsia and GER are common in native rural population of Yakutia. The majority of subjects examined have various pathology of upper gastrointestinal tract.

This work was supported by grant N 05-06-18016е from The Russian Foundation for Humanities

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)