Early satiety is the only patient-reported symptom associated with delayed gastric emptying, as assessed by breath-test.

Background/aims: To evaluate associations between delayed gastric emptying (GE) assessed by the octanoic acid breath test and upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Methods: A historical, prospective study included 111 consecutive symptomatic adults referred for a GE breath test because of upper abdominal symptoms suggestive of delayed GE. Exclusion criteria included underlying organic disease associated with delayed GE. Patients completed a symptom questionnaire and underwent a GE octanoic breath test. Patients with delayed GE were compared with those with normal results, for upper GI symptoms.

Results: Early satiety was the only symptom significantly associated with delayed GE. It was observed in 52% of subjects with delayed GE compared to 33% patients with no evidence of delayed GE (P = 0.005). This association was seen for all degrees of severity of delayed GE. Patients with early satiety had a t(1/2) of 153.9 ± 84.6 minutes compared to 110.9 ± 47.6 minutes in subjects without it (P = 0.002). In a logistic regression model, early satiety was significantly associated with delayed GE (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.01-5.18; P = 0.048).

Conclusions: Early satiety is the only patient-reported GI symptom associated with delayed GE. The utility of GE tests as a clinical diagnostic tool in the work-up of dyspeptic symptoms may be overrated.