Appetite loss in patients with dyspepsia: A retrospective study of clinical characteristics and effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment.

Loss of appetite is commonly observed in patients with dyspepsia in clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and effectiveness of Korean medical treatment for patients with dyspepsia and appetite loss. Clinical records of 225 patients with dyspepsia who visited the Digestive Diseases Clinic of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital between January 1, 2022, and July 31, 2024, were reviewed. Patients were classified into the anorexia with dyspepsia (AD) group (101) and non-anorexia with dyspepsia group (124), based on the presence of appetite loss. Clinical characteristics were analyzed accordingly. The AD group had a higher tendency to experience various gastrointestinal symptoms, including upper abdominal discomfort, early satiety, and upper abdominal bloating compared to the non-anorexia with dyspepsia group. Anorexia was positively linked to various aspects of quality of life, such as eating habits, energy levels, psychological, and role-functioning capacity. In electrogastrography analysis, the AD group exhibited a significantly higher preprandial dominant frequency. However, no significant differences were found in other electrogastrography parameters or heart rate variability results, indicating a limited impact of anorexia on physical function. Following 4 weeks of Korean medicine treatment, the AD group showed substantial improvements in overall quality of life. Dyspepsia accompanied by anorexia was more strongly linked to psychosocial and physical health challenges than dyspepsia with good appetite, highlighting Korean medical treatment as a potential therapeutic option for patients with anorexia.