Valid symptom reporting at upper endoscopy in a random sample of the Swedish adult general population: the Kalixanda study

Abstract

The upper endoscopy survey strategy was successful. The response rate was high and there was no major selection bias of clinical relevance. The cohort selected for this study appears to be representative of the general Swedish adult population.

A 13-nation population survey of upper gastrointestinal symptoms: prevalence of symptoms and socioeconomic factors

“…Relationships between age and gastrointestinal symptoms have been previously reported. 3,22 However, different studies have found different relationships between ageing and the prevalence of UGI symptoms, with some studies finding an increasing prevalence with age until the age of 69 or 55 years, from which point the trend was reversed, 3,13 whereas in the Kalixanda study the prevalence decreased even for subjects above 34 years, 23 and others who did not report an association of GER symptoms with age. 24 The reasons for the variation between studies and countries, in this relationship among ageing and UGI symptoms, are still unknown and need to be elucidated further.…”

Use of tobacco products and gastrointestinal morbidity: an endoscopic population-based study (the Kalixanda study)

“…The invitation included information of the study design and of the aims of the study and a validated questionnaire, the Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire (ASQ) to be returned by mail [15]. Up to two remainders were sent when necessary; 140 subjects were unavailable at the time for invitation, thus 2,860 of the original study population were eligible for inclusion [14]. The overall response rate was 74.2% (n=2,122) of the eligible study population.…”

“…Every seventh adult (n=3,000) from the target population (18-80 years of age, n=21,610 in September 1998) was drawn. The sampled subjects were given an identification number (1-3,000) in a random order [14]. …”

“…Up to two remainders were sent when necessary; 140 subjects were unavailable at the time for invitation, thus 2,860 of the original study population were eligible for inclusion [14]. The overall response rate was 74.2% (n=2,122) of the eligible study population.The original study population was divided into five groups according to their given identification number, 1-600, 601-1,200 and so forth, the first subset of study subjects was 7 approached with the mailed ASQ in November 1998 and the study was completed in June 2001 [14]. In order to complete 1,001 esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs), 1,563 responders to the ASQ had to be approached of whom 364 declined, 74 had moved or could not be reached and 124 were excluded according to the study protocol.…”

“…The biopsies for Helicobacter pylori culture and concomitant histology were available from 1,000 subjects. At the visit for the EGD, the participants filled in a more comprehensive ASQ, as described previously [14].The study protocol was approved by Umeå University ethics committee and the study was conducted according to the declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.…”