Risk factors associated with functional dyspepsia in Chinese children: a cross-sectional study

• Main Authors: Zhongcao Wei, Xing Yang, Xin Xing, Lei Dong, Jinhai Wang, Bin Qin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-05-01
• Series: BMC Gastroenterology
• Subjects: Functional dyspepsia; Risk factors; Chinese children; Rome IV
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-021-01800-x

Abstract Background There is no study assessing the risk factors associated with functional dyspepsia (FD) in Chinese children based on the Rome IV criteria. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from eight representative primary and secondary schools to assess the risk factors associated with FD in Chinese children based on the Rome IV criteria. Results A total of 6976 Chinese children were enrolled. The mean age was 14.3 ± 2.5 years, with a range from 7 to 17 years, and 3497 (50.1%) participants were female. FD was prevalent in 209 (3.0%) of the Chinese child population studied. Age (OR = 1.112, P = 0.006), living independent of parents (OR = 1.677, P < 0.001), prolonged school meals (OR = 2.107, P < 0.001), never eat breakfast (OR = 2.192, P = 0.003), often/daily eat cold foods (OR = 2.296, P = 0.002; OR = 2.736, P = 0.011), and often eat pickled foods (OR = 2.390, P = 0.001) were found to be independent risk factors for FD. A nomogram with these risk factors had good discrimination (AUC = 0.727) and calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow test was 0.851). Conclusions Age, living independent of parents, prolonged school meals, never eat breakfast, often/daily eat cold foods and often eat pickled foods were independent risk factors for FD. The nomogram could be used as a quick screening tool to assess FD in Chinese children.