Estimating the prevalence of medically unexplained symptoms from primary care records

Morriss, Richard; Lindson, Nicola; Coupland, Carol; Dex, G.; Avery, Anthony J

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2012.05.008

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In this study, the prevalence of patients with MUS was below the range mentioned in other publications 4 ; this may be because strict diagnostic criteria were used to define MUS. The wide variability of prevalence could be associated to different diagnostic criteria and the lack of a unique concept 6 .…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 55%

“…Patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUS) are those in which no organic pathology is found that explains the origin of their symptoms 1 . Its prevalence in primary care ranges between 1.1% and 15.3% 2 - 4 ; in secondary level care it is 52%, with a greater frequency in certain services 5 . In Mexico, there are no data on its prevalence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health care utilization of mexican patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms

González

Aranda²,

Reséndiz³

et al. 2016

Colomb Med

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Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de Síntomas Físicos Medicamente No Explicables y las características y uso de los servicios de salud entre el grupo de pacientes con Síntomas Físicos Medicamente No Explicables, y el grupo con otras enfermedades. Métodos: Estudio transversal, retroprospectivo y multicéntrico. Se incluyeron a 1,043 pacientes mayores de 18 años, en 30 unidades de atención primaria de una institución gubernamental en salud, en 11 estados de la República Mexicana, atendidos por 39 médicos familiares. Se estimó la prevalencia de Síntomas Físicos Medicamente No Explicables y se compararon los dos grupos con y sin estos síntomas, en cuanto al uso de medicamentos, estudios de laboratorio, de gabinete, incapacidades y referencias en los últimos seis meses. El grupo de Síntomas Físicos Medicamente No Explicables fue diagnosticado por el Patient Health Questionnaire (son los síntomas físicos más comúnmente referidos por estos pacientes en el primer nivel de atención), además de criterios diagnósticos de Reid et al. Se excluyeron urgencias o con enfermedad terminal. Se utilizó prueba Chi cuadrada con p <0.05 para significancia estadística. Resultados: El 7.0% (73) se diagnosticó como Síntomas Físicos Medicamente No Explicables, la mayoría mujeres (91.8%); el síntoma predominante pertenece al sistema gastrointestinal con 76.7% (56). Este grupo demandó mayor uso de estudios de gabinete y referencias a otros servicios (media 1.1 vs. 0.5; p <0.0001 y 0.8 vs 0.6; p <0.01, respectivamente). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de Síntomas Físicos Medicamente No Explicables fue baja, pero con impacto significativo en el uso de algunos servicios de salud. Esto pudiera representar un mayor costo comparado con otro grupo de pacientes.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 55%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health care utilization of mexican patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms

González

Aranda²,

Reséndiz³

et al. 2016

Colomb Med

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“…Our case definition resembles definitions used in previous research [12,13,15]. The prevalence in this study is on MUPS patients as perceived by Norwegian GPs and not a prevalence of MUPS in the general public, and due to the study design one patient may have been registered several times, which may influence the results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients with persistent medically unexplained physical symptoms: a descriptive study from Norwegian general practice

2014

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BackgroundFurther research on effective interventions for patients with peristent Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS) in general practice is needed. Prevalence estimates of such patients are conflicting, and other descriptive knowledge is needed for development and evaluation of effective future interventions. In this study, we aimed to estimate the consultation prevalence of patients with persistent MUPS in general practice, including patients’ characteristics and symptom pattern, employment status and use of social benefits, and the general practitioners’ (GPs) management strategy.MethodDuring a four-week period the participating Norwegian GPs (n = 84) registered all consultations with patients who met a strict definition of MUPS (>3 months duration and function loss), using a questionnaire with simple tick-off questions. Analyses were performed with descriptive statistics for all variables and split analysis on gender and age.ResultsThe GPs registered 526 patients among their total of 17 688 consultations, giving a consultation prevalence of persistent MUPS of 3%. The mean age of patients was 46 years, and 399 (76%) were women. The most frequent group of symptoms was musculoskeletal problems, followed by asthenia/fatigue. There was no significant gender difference in symptom pattern. Almost half of the patients were currently working (45%), significantly more men. The major GP management strategy was supportive counseling.ConclusionA consultation prevalence rate of 3% implies that patients with persistent MUPS are common in general practice. Our study disclosed heterogeneity among the patients such as differences in employment status, which emphasizes the importance of personalized focus rather than unsubstantiated stereotyping of “MUPS patients” as a group.

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“…Physical symptoms which cannot be explained by organic disease are present in 40% of patients consulting GPs [1], are the reason for consultation in 20% [2][3][4] and account for up to 65% of referrals to specialists [5]. These so-called medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) may occur singly (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A taxonomy of explanations in a general practitioner clinic for patients with persistent “medically unexplained” physical symptoms

Morton

Elliott

Cleland

et al. 2017

Patient Education and Counseling

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Estimating the prevalence of medically unexplained symptoms from primary care records

Cited by 16 publications

References 26 publications

Health care utilization of mexican patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms

Health care utilization of mexican patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms

Patients with persistent medically unexplained physical symptoms: a descriptive study from Norwegian general practice

A taxonomy of explanations in a general practitioner clinic for patients with persistent “medically unexplained” physical symptoms

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