AIMS: The @entity1133 breath test may have value in the initial assessment of @entity2210 in primary care. This pilot study tracks @entity1 and general practitioner behaviour which cannot be predicted with modelling studies. METHODS: The @entity1133 breath test was made available over a period of 18 months. The test was requested when general practitioners would normally have used a trial of medication or referred for endoscopy. @entity1 with a positive @entity1133 breath test had early endoscopy before treatment. @entity1 with a negative @entity1133 breath test were treated according to symptom response. A follow-up questionnaire was given 6-24 months after the @entity1133 breath test. RESULTS: @entity1133 breath tests were requested on 249 @entity1 ; clinical notes and follow-up interview data were available for 207 @entity1 (83%). The @entity1133 breath test was positive for 89 @entity1 (43%); 70 were referred for endoscopy and @entity10189 was found in 33 (47%). The @entity1133 breath test was negative for 118 @entity1 ; 14 were follow-up tests after previous @entity1534 treatment. For the 104 @entity1 with @entity2210 , a negative test and no previous treatment, 42% had 1 or more previous investigations for @entity2210 and 66% had @entity2210 symptoms for more than one year. During follow-up, 21 @entity1 had endoscopy. Dyspepsia symptom scores were significantly lower at follow-up (p < 0.01). Using a global assessment, 66% had fewer symptoms, 22% same and 12% had more symptoms. The symptom improvement was greater if the duration of symptoms was less than one year (p < 0.05). Medication use did not change significantly. Twelve @entity1 were dissatisfied with management; most of these would have preferred endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: A negative @entity1133 breath test appears to have some reassurance value. The use of the @entity1133 breath test as initial assessment for dyspespia may prevent the need for some endoscopy. Further controlled studies of breath testing compared with early endoscopy are required.

Can the XXXX breath test for @entity1534 replace endoscopy for the assessment of @entity2210 in primary care?

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity10189 :: ('MESH:D010437', 'Disease') :: ['peptic ulcer disease'] @entity1133 :: ('MESH:D014508', 'Chemical') :: ['Urea', 'urea'] @entity1534 :: ('210', 'Species') :: ['H.pylori'] @entity2210 :: ('MESH:D004415', 'Disease') :: ['dyspepsia']
@entity1133 :: (MESH:D014508,Chemical) :: ['urea']
