Correlates of gastroenterology health-services utilization among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a large database analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with high utilization of health care services. Diagnostic tests usually are not required to establish GERD diagnosis, but endoscopy is recommended for patients with alarm symptoms such as dysphagia and unintentional weight loss, and those whose symptoms are not relieved by proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) therapy. Evidence on the correlates of utilization of gastroenterology health services among GERD patients is limited. The study aim was to examine associations of patient and physician's characteristics with high utilization of gastroenterology services.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study using the database of the second largest integrated care organization in Israel, data of all adult GERD patients (N = 75,219)

SUBMITTER: Na'amnih W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6700833 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature