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Patients with persistent medically unexplained physical symptoms: a descriptive study from Norwegian general
Aase Aamland1, Kirsti Malterud, Erik L Werner
1Research Unit for General Practice, Uni Research Health Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018 Bergen, Norway. aase.aamland@gmail.com.
BMC Family Practice
|June 3, 2014
Summary
Persistent Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS) affect 3% of general practice consultations, predominantly women with musculoskeletal or fatigue issues. Personalized patient care is crucial due to varied characteristics, challenging group stereotyping.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS) present a significant challenge in primary care settings.
- Effective interventions for persistent MUPS require further research and better descriptive data.
- Current prevalence estimates for MUPS patients are inconsistent, necessitating updated epidemiological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the consultation prevalence of patients with persistent MUPS in Norwegian general practice.
- To describe patient characteristics, including symptom patterns and employment status.
- To document the management strategies employed by general practitioners (GPs) for these patients.
Main Methods:
- A four-week prospective study involving 84 Norwegian GPs.
- GPs used a questionnaire to register consultations with patients meeting strict MUPS criteria (>3 months duration, functional loss).
- Descriptive statistics were used for analysis, with subgroup analysis by gender and age.
Main Results:
- A consultation prevalence of 3% for persistent MUPS was observed (526 patients out of 17,688 consultations).
- The average patient age was 46, with 76% being female. Musculoskeletal and asthenia/fatigue were the most common symptoms.
- 45% of patients were employed, with men significantly more likely to be working. Supportive counseling was the primary GP management approach.
Conclusions:
- Persistent MUPS are common in general practice, with a 3% consultation prevalence.
- Significant patient heterogeneity exists, particularly regarding employment status.
- A personalized approach to patient care is essential, avoiding generalizations about MUPS patients.