Evaluation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms by Questionnaire, FSSG, Revealed That the Symptoms Were More Frequent in Females Compared to Males in Japanese Young Adults Healthy Volunteers: 1751

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal symptoms are generally more frequent and severe in females compared to males in outpatients in Japan. The increase in females might be more popular in young adults, which has not been demonstrated in the previous study. The present study tried to compare upper gastrointestinal symptoms between males and females in young adult healthy volunteers using FSSG: Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD. Methods: Among 581 third grade medical students in Saga Medical School aged from 22 to 30 years old between 2007 and 2013 who received the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and answered the questionnaire FSSG, 298 subjects with negative of Helicobacter pylori infection and who had no particular lesion in the endoscopic examination were enrolled in the present study. Positive symptoms were defined when the subject evaluated more than 2 scales of FSSG. Results: The subjects contained 191 males (average age 23.7 years old) and 136 females (average age 23.1 years old). Frequency of the complained upper gastrointestinal symptoms was more severe in the young healthy females compared to the young males (males: 69 out of 163 (42.3%), females: 75 out of 135 (55.6%); P < 0.05). Regarding to each symptom of FSSG, the females complained more severe compared to the males in ‘stomach get bloated', ‘stomach feel heavy after meals', ‘subconsciously rub your chest with your hand', and ‘feel full while eating meals'(P < 0.05 in each). Other symptoms were not different between the females and the males. Each symptom of FSSG was classified into two categories, reflux symptoms and dysmotility symptoms. Among the 144 subjects who complained the upper gastrointestinal symptoms (males: 69, females: 75) with FSSG, female subjects complained dysmotility symptoms compared to males. Conclusion: This study suggested that females felt more frequent regarding the upper gastrointestinal symptoms, especially dysmotility symptoms, compared to the males in the young healthy Japanese subjects.