A predictor analysis of clinical assessment of outcome among patients operated on for duodenal ulcer. A 1-year prospective study.

During a period of 1 year, data concerning life events, non-specific psychological symptoms, individual social history, and ulcer history were obtained for consecutive cases of patients about to have elective surgical treatment for duodenal ulcer. At the 1-year follow-up examination a blind, clinical evaluation was performed (dumping, dyspepsia, recurrence, and Visick grading), and information concerning the 94 patients' assessment of outcome was obtained. A multivariate predictor analysis was performed. Most patients (85%) benefited from treatment. The excess rate of non-specific psychological symptoms indicating impairment remained unchanged. The patients assessments of outcome were correlated with the clinical assessment. A positive correlation was found for women to have dumping and poor Visick grade and for unmarried persons to have postoperative dyspepsia and a poor Visick grade. A negative correlation between a long ulcer history and postoperative dyspepsia and a positive correlation between pyloroplasty and dumping were found. Non-specific psychological symptoms predicted poor clinical assessments. It is suggested that it is relevant to apply the patients' assessments for the purpose of evaluation, supplementing the clinical assessment of the more biomedical aspects of outcome.