Childhood Abuse history is associated with the development of dyspepsia - a population-based survey

Background: FD is a heterogeneous disorder, and it is not clear whether abuse influences the severity of dyspeptic symptoms and the type of dyspepsia. Accordingly, we administered a questionnaire survey to evaluate the association of abuse history in the development of dyspepsia.Methods: Study subjects were selected from among a panel of volunteers, to make equal distribution of age, and sex. A Web-based questionnaire was administered to 1000 dyspepsia subjects who had obtained a medical consultation, 1000 dyspepsia subjects who had not, and 500 healthy control subjects. Dyspepsia was categorized into EPS and PDS using the Rome III questionnaire. Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse history and severity of dyspeptic symptoms were assessed by a questionnaire.Results: Childhood abuse history was significantly prevalent in dyspepsia. However, these abuse histories were not associated with consultation behavior. Childhood abuse was more prevalent in subjects with dyspepsia and in females. Severity of dyspeptic symptoms was significantly greater in dyspepsia subjects with abuse history. Childhood abuse was more prevalent in dyspepsia subjects with the overlap of EPS and PDS and in those who also had IBS.Conclusions: Childhood abuse history was associated with the development of dyspepsia especially in the overlapping diagnoses of EPS and PDS, and overlapping with IBS but not with consultation behavior. Abuse history should be assessed in the care of patients with dyspepsia.