Upper endoscopy in Solomon Islands: A four-year retrospective study.

ABSTRACT: ObjectiveGastrointestinal diseases are common, yet some countries still lack endoscopy. Modern flexible endoscopy was introduced to the Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital (NRH) in 2012, but little is known about gastrointestinal disease in the country.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study describes trends in upper gastrointestinal diseases to inform local research and health programming. Demographic, clinical, and endoscopic data, including rapid urease test (RUT) results for H. pylori, were abstracted from consecutively entered patient medical records at the NRH.ResultsA total of 761 patients underwent upper endoscopy and RUT (2019-2022). Although RUT was positive in only 25.8% of patients (N = 196), relatively common findings of erosions (N = 90, 11.8%) and

SUBMITTER: Bush DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12492220 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature