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 @entity1133 breath test for @entity1534 replace endoscopy for the assessment of XXXX 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']
@entity2210 :: (MESH:D004415,Disease) :: ['dyspepsia']
