WHO SHOULD BE SCREENED TO REDUCE THE ENDOSCOPY WORKLOAD IN MULAGO-HOSPITAL

A retrospective study of 330 patients who had been endoscoped in Mulag o hospital was done, It was Found that of these 119 (36.1%) were norma l endoscopically, Normal endoscopy was significantly associated with p atients presenting with dyspepsia, Dyspepsia was commoner in the age g roup 13-45 years compared to the age group 46-85 years. The older age group, 46-85 years, had a significantly higher prevalence of serious d isease. It is concluded that it is the younger patients with dyspepsia who should be screened to reduce the endoscopy workload. Published gu idelines should be used to assist in the screening process.