Prevalence, characteristics, and management of childhood functional abdominal pain in general practice

Figures & data

Table I. Univariate analysis of patient and pain characteristics and diagnosis of functional abdominal pain by the general practitioner (GPFAP).

Characteristics	GPFAP n = 265	Organic n = 32	OR (95%CI) adjusted for age
Demographics: Age, mean (± SD) Sex (% female) Factors associated with FAP, n (%): Belching Flatulence Bloated feeling Dyspepsia Headache on a regular basis Somatization Family history of functional GI complaints Family history of regular headaches Red flag symptoms, n (%) > 3 red flag symptoms Vomiting Wake up at night due to abdominal pain Pain urinating Fever Underweight Blood on stool Intra-abdominal comorbidity Abdominal surgery in history Gastroenteritis in previous year Urinary tract infection in previous year	8.55 (2.99) 162 (61.1) 42 (15.8) 85 (32.1) 91 (34.6) 54 (20.4) 98 (37.0) 51 (19.2) 81 (31.3) 116 (44.4) 8 (3.0) 39 (14.7) 104 (39.2) 17 (6.4) 36 (13.6) 22 (8.3) 4 (1.5) 168 (63.4) 9 (3.4) 157 (59.2) 24 (9.1)	6.27 (1.78) 21 (65.6) 7 (21.9) 8 (25.0) 5 (15.6) 3 (9.4) 6 (18.8) 2 (6.3) 9 (28.1) 15 (46.9) 6 (18.8) 9 (28.1) 14 (43.8) 2 (6.3) 13 (40.6) 2 (6.3) 2 (6.3) 26 (81.3) 2 (6.3) 24 (75.0) 8 (25.0)	1.45 (1.20–1.75)* 0.82 (0.38–1.78) 0.67 (0.27–1.66) 1.42 (0.61–3.28) 2.86 (1.07–7.67)* 2.47 (0.73–8.43) 2.54 (1.01–6.39)* 3.58 (0.83–15.45)** 1.16 (0.52–2.63) 0.91 (0.43–1.89) 0.20 (0.06–0.65)* 0.44 (0.20–1.02)** 0.83 (0.40–1.74) 1.03 (0.23–4.67) 0.23 (0.10–0.51)* 1.36 (0.30–6.06) 0.23 (0.04–1.32)** 0.40 (0.16–1.01)** 0.53 (0.11–2.56) 0.49 (0.21–1.12)** 0.30 (0.12–0.74)*

Notes: *p ≤ 0.05; **p < 0.10.

Table II. Multivariate analysis of management by general practitioner (GP) and a diagnosis of functional abdominal pain by the GP (GPFAP).

			OR (95%CI)
Management and diagnosis by GP	GPFAP n = 265	Organic n = 32	Unadjusted	Adjusted for potential confounders*
Diagnosis GP, ICPC code: Generalized abdominal pain (D01) Gastric pain (D02) Localized abdominal pain (D06) Constipation (D12) Gastroenteritis (D11/D70/D73) Urinary tract infection (U71) Appendicitis (D88) Other FGIDs according to the PRC-III: FGIDs, general Functional dyspepsia Irritable bowel syndrome Functional abdominal pain Functional abdominal pain syndrome Additional diagnostic tests: Abdominal X-ray/Ultrasonography Blood sampling Referral to specialist care	174 (65.7) 2 (0.8) 57 (21.5) 31 (11.7) – – – 1 (0.4) 130 (50.6) 10 (7.7) 50 (38.5) 70 (53.8) 67 (51.5) 71 (26.8) 22 (8.3) 61 (23.0) 27 (10.2)	– – – – 17 (53.1) 5 (15.6) 1 (3.1) 9 (28.1) 7 (21.9) 1 (3.1) 6 (18.8) 3 (9.4)	1.31 (0.54–3.16) 1.10 (0.31–3.84)	0.75 (0.28–1.98) 1.11 (0.30–4.19)

Notes: *Age, > 3 red flag symptoms, and intra-abdominal comorbidity.