RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 An evidence-based approach to the management of uninvestigated dyspepsia in the era of Helicobacter pylori JF Canadian Medical Association Journal JO CMAJ FD Canadian Medical Association SP S3 OP S23 VO 162 IS 12 suppl A1 Sander J.O. Veldhuyzen van Zanten A1 Nigel Flook A1 Naoki Chiba A1 David Armstrong A1 Alan Barkun A1 Marc Bradette A1 Alan Thomson A1 Ford Bursey A1 Patricia Blackshaw A1 Dawn Frail A1 Paul Sinclair A1 for the Canadian Dyspepsia Working Group YR 2000 UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/162/12_suppl/S3.abstract AB Objectives: To provide Canadian primary care physicians with an evidence-based clinical management tool, including diagnostic and treatment recommendations, for patients who present with uninvestigated dyspepsia. Recommendations: The management tool has 5 key decision steps addressing the following: (1) evidence that symptoms originate in the upper gastrointestinal tract, (2) presence of alarm features, (3) use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), (4) dominant reflux symptoms and (5) evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection. All patients over 50 years of age who present with new-onset dyspepsia and patients who present with alarm features should receive prompt investigation, preferably by endoscopy. The management options for patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia who use NSAIDs regularly are: (1) to stop NSAID therapy and assess symptomatic response, (2) to treat with NSAID prophylaxis if NSAID therapy cannot be stopped or (3) to refer for investigation. Gastroesophageal reflux disease can be diagnosed clinically if the patient's dominant symptoms are heartburn or acid regurgitation, or both; these patients should be treated with acid suppressive therapy. The remaining patients should be tested for H. pylori infection, and those with a positive result should be treated with H. pylori-eradication therapy. Those with a negative result should have their symptoms treated with optimal antisecretory therapy or a prokinetic agent. Validation and evidence: Evidence for resolution of the dyspepsia symptoms was the main outcome measure. Supporting evidence for the 5 steps in the management tool and the recommendations for treatment were graded according to the strength of the evidence and were endorsed by consensus of committee members. If no randomized controlled clinical trials were available, the recommendations were based on the best available evidence. Literature review: Evidence was obtained from MEDLINE searches for pertinent articles published from 1966 to October 1999. The searches focused on dyspepsia, diagnosis and treatment. Additional articles were retrieved through a manual search of bibliographies and abstracts from international gastroenterology conferences. Sponsors: Supported by unrestricted educational grants from AstraZeneca Canada Inc., Isotechnika Inc. and Integrated Healthcare Communications Inc.