Figure 1.

Diagnostic algorithm for functional dyspepsia in Asian primary care settings. ^aDyspepsia refers to a symptom or set of symptoms that are considered to originate from the gastroduodenal region. The dyspeptic symptoms are epigastric pain, epigastric burning, postprandial fullness, early satiation and other symptoms including bloating in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting and belching. Chronic dyspeptic symptoms can be continuous, intermittent or recurrent. More than two thirds of the consensus members agreed that symptom duration of 3 months or longer might be enough. ^bThe alarm features are unintended weight loss, progressive dysphagia, recurrent or persistent vomiting, evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, fever, family history of gastric cancer, new onset dyspepsia in the subjects over 40 years of age in population with high prevalence of upper gastrointestinal malignancy and over 45 and 50 years in populations with intermediate and low prevalence, respectively. ^cThe appropriate choice from the three options depends on patient's symptom profiles, patient's wish, local risk of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer as well as local health care or re-imbursement system. H. pylori, Helicobacter pylori.