2 Prevalence, incidence and natural history of dyspepsia and functional dyspepsia

Abstract

Estimates of the prevalence of dyspepsia in the community have varied between studies. This is, in large part, because of differences in the definitions used. Roughly speaking, 15–20% of the general population will report recurrent upper abdominal pain over the course of a year. Most of these people do not have endoscopic abnormalities and thus meet the criteria for functional dyspepsia. These symptoms appear to come and go, which makes determination of the incidence of dyspepsia quite difficult. Most studies have not distinguished whether the onset of symptoms represents recurrence or de novo symptoms. Approximately 5–10% of the population will develop symptoms of dyspepsia in a given year, and 50% of people with dyspepsia will lose their symptoms the following year. Regardless of the exact figures, all studies have demonstrated dyspepsia to be exceedingly common in the community.