Table 2: Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population according to the specialty of the referring physician

		Hospital-based consultants (n = 565)		GPs (n = 454)
Sex, M/F		329/236		132/322
Age, mean ± SD		61.1 ± 17.3		60.3 ± 17.5
Main referral indication (%)
• Appropriate indication
1. Upper abdominal symptoms persistent despite therapy		8.8		15.4*
2. Upper abdominal symptoms associated with symptoms and signs suggesting serious organic disease or in patients aged >45 years		5.3		11*
3. Esophageal reflux symptoms persistent or recurrent despite therapy		1.8		4.4
4. Portal hypertension evaluation		0.9		0
5. Active or recent GI bleeding		23.2		0*
6. Suspected chronic bleeding		3.5		6.6
7. Dysphagia or odynophagia		3.5		11.9*
8. GI assessment in other medical disorders		1.8		2.2
9. Persistent vomiting of unknown cause		1.8		6.6*
10. Sclerotherapy or variceal bleeding		5		0
11. Histologic assessment of a neoplasia detected radiologically		1.8		0*
12. Others		1.8		3.5
• Not appropriate indications
1. Symptoms considered functional		10.8		24.7*
2. Surveillance of healed benign lesions		30.6		11.2*
3. Others		3.5		2.4

*p < 0.01; GI: Gastrointestinal