Prevalence of Gastroparesis and the Impact of Metformin in Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Riyadh,...

Background: The prevalence of gastroparesis in individuals with diabetes mellitus varies significantly across different studies. This study is aimed at estimating the prevalence of gastroparesis among diabetic patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and evaluating the association between metformin use and clinical manifestations of gastroparesis. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed an online survey distributed via Google Forms, targeting patients at a diabetes clinic. The survey comprised three sections, including the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI). Eligible participants were those diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus and aged 18 or older. Results: The study included 385 participants, with the majority diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (55.6%) for over 10 years (59.5%). A significant proportion had poorly controlled blood glucose levels (56.6%) and were taking metformin (50.9%). Among gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, "stomach fullness" was reported most frequently (53.2%), whereas "vomiting" was reported least often (17.9%). GCSI scores did not differ significantly between type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients (p = 0.88). However, patients with diabetes durations of less than 3 years, those with durations of 5-7 years controlled blood glucose levels, and those on metformin exhibited higher GCSI scores (p = 0.20, p = 0.02, and p = 0.10, respectively). Conclusion: This study identified some commonalities as well as differences in the prevalence and symptomatology of gastroparesis among diabetic patients. We observed no significant variation in GCSI scores between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, higher GCSI scores were associated with shorter diabetes durations, controlled blood glucose levels, and metformin use. However, due to the small sample size and reliance on self-reported data, one should interpret the study's findings with caution.