BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate associations between delayed gastric emptying (GE) assessed by the octanoic acid breath test and upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. METHODS: A historical, prospective study included 111 consecutive symptomatic adults referred for a GE breath test because of upper abdominal symptoms suggestive of delayed GE. Exclusion criteria included underlying organic disease associated with delayed GE. Patients completed a symptom questionnaire and underwent a GE octanoic breath test. Patients with delayed GE were compared with those with normal results, for upper GI symptoms. RESULTS: Early satiety was the only symptom significantly associated with delayed GE. It was observed in 52% of subjects with delayed GE compared to 33% patients with no evidence of delayed GE (P = 0.005). This association was seen for all degrees of severity of delayed GE. Patients with early satiety had a t1/2 of 153.9 +/- 84.6 minutes compared to 110.9 +/- 47.6 minutes in subjects without it (P = 0.002). In a logistic regression model, early satiety was significantly associated with delayed GE (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.01-5.18; P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Early satiety is the only patient-reported GI symptom associated with delayed GE. The utility of GE tests as a clinical diagnostic tool in the work-up of dyspeptic symptoms may be overrated.
Adult ; Breath Tests ; Caprylates ; Dyspepsia ; Gastric Emptying ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background: Functional bowel disorders (FBDs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are common worldwide. Recently, increasingly many bariatric surgical procedures have been performed in response to rising obesity rates. However, data on the association between FBDs and bariatric surgery are scarce. We examined the prevalence of FBDs among candidates for bariatric surgery and prospectively investigated the association between FBDs and bariatric surgery. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 112 bariatric surgery candidates at the Tel Aviv Medical Center from 2019 to 2020. Before and after surgery, patients completed the Rome III questionnaire. Data regarding demographics, socioeconomic status, and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded. The rates of FBDs—IBS, functional constipation (FC), functional diarrhea (FDi), and unspecified functional bowel disorder (UFBD)—were then compared from before surgery to 6 months after the procedure. Results: Of 112 candidates with obesity at baseline, 68 underwent surgery and completed the postoperative questionnaire. Overall, the respective prevalence rates of FBDs, IBS, FC, FDi, and UFBD were 37.5%, 2.7%, 17.9%, 5.4%, and 11.6%. Female sex and single status were particularly common among patients with FBDs, whereas divorced status was more frequent in the group without FBDs. However, these factors were not independently associated with FBD presence upon multivariable analysis. IBS was more prevalent after surgery than before (8.8% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.06), but FBDs in general did not share this trend (44.1% vs. 36.8%, P = 0.44). Conclusion Bariatric surgery appears to increase the risk of developing IBS, while not impacting the overall risk of FBDs.

Background: Functional bowel disorders (FBDs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are common worldwide. Recently, increasingly many bariatric surgical procedures have been performed in response to rising obesity rates. However, data on the association between FBDs and bariatric surgery are scarce. We examined the prevalence of FBDs among candidates for bariatric surgery and prospectively investigated the association between FBDs and bariatric surgery. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 112 bariatric surgery candidates at the Tel Aviv Medical Center from 2019 to 2020. Before and after surgery, patients completed the Rome III questionnaire. Data regarding demographics, socioeconomic status, and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded. The rates of FBDs—IBS, functional constipation (FC), functional diarrhea (FDi), and unspecified functional bowel disorder (UFBD)—were then compared from before surgery to 6 months after the procedure. Results: Of 112 candidates with obesity at baseline, 68 underwent surgery and completed the postoperative questionnaire. Overall, the respective prevalence rates of FBDs, IBS, FC, FDi, and UFBD were 37.5%, 2.7%, 17.9%, 5.4%, and 11.6%. Female sex and single status were particularly common among patients with FBDs, whereas divorced status was more frequent in the group without FBDs. However, these factors were not independently associated with FBD presence upon multivariable analysis. IBS was more prevalent after surgery than before (8.8% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.06), but FBDs in general did not share this trend (44.1% vs. 36.8%, P = 0.44). Conclusion Bariatric surgery appears to increase the risk of developing IBS, while not impacting the overall risk of FBDs.

Background: Functional bowel disorders (FBDs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are common worldwide. Recently, increasingly many bariatric surgical procedures have been performed in response to rising obesity rates. However, data on the association between FBDs and bariatric surgery are scarce. We examined the prevalence of FBDs among candidates for bariatric surgery and prospectively investigated the association between FBDs and bariatric surgery. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 112 bariatric surgery candidates at the Tel Aviv Medical Center from 2019 to 2020. Before and after surgery, patients completed the Rome III questionnaire. Data regarding demographics, socioeconomic status, and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded. The rates of FBDs—IBS, functional constipation (FC), functional diarrhea (FDi), and unspecified functional bowel disorder (UFBD)—were then compared from before surgery to 6 months after the procedure. Results: Of 112 candidates with obesity at baseline, 68 underwent surgery and completed the postoperative questionnaire. Overall, the respective prevalence rates of FBDs, IBS, FC, FDi, and UFBD were 37.5%, 2.7%, 17.9%, 5.4%, and 11.6%. Female sex and single status were particularly common among patients with FBDs, whereas divorced status was more frequent in the group without FBDs. However, these factors were not independently associated with FBD presence upon multivariable analysis. IBS was more prevalent after surgery than before (8.8% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.06), but FBDs in general did not share this trend (44.1% vs. 36.8%, P = 0.44). Conclusion Bariatric surgery appears to increase the risk of developing IBS, while not impacting the overall risk of FBDs.