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Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at a student health centre
1Helsinki Health Centre, Finnish Student Health Service.
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in young adults revealed abnormalities in nearly half of patients. This common procedure is effective for diagnosing conditions in primary healthcare settings.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
- Primary Health Care
Background:
- Student health centers serve a young adult population often presenting with abdominal complaints.
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) is a diagnostic tool for evaluating upper GI symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility and findings of UGE in university students under 35.
- To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal abnormalities in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 605 UGE procedures performed at a student health center.
- Data collection on patient demographics, indications, and endoscopic findings.
Main Results:
- Abnormalities were detected in 48.0% of patients.
- Common findings included chronic superficial gastritis (15.4%), oesophageal abnormalities (8.7%), coeliac disease (2.6%), and new duodenal ulcers (2.3%).
- Gastric polyps were found in 3.1% of cases.
Conclusions:
- UGE is a valuable diagnostic procedure for primary healthcare settings serving young adults.
- A significant percentage of young adults presenting with abdominal complaints have identifiable upper GI abnormalities.