Health care utilization of mexican patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms

作者：Rodriguez Gonzalez Azucena Maribel; Ramirez Aranda Jose Manuel; de los Santos Resendiz Homero; Lara Duarte Maria Yolanda; Pazaran Zanella Santiago Oscar; Mendez Lopez Jafet Felipe; Gil Alfaro Issa; Islas Ruz Felix Gilberto; Navarrete Floriano Gloria; Guillen Salomon Edith; Texon Fernandez Obdulia; Cruz Duarte Silvia; Romo Salazar Juan Carlos; Perez Ruiz Claudia Elsa; Lopez Salas Sara de Jesus; Benitez Amaya Lizbeth; Zapata Gallardo Javier Nahum

来源：Colombia Medica, 2016, 47(3): 155-159.

• Somatization disorder
• somatization
• health care institutions
• health care services
• primary health
• care
• family medicine
• ambulatory care
• physician-patient relations

Objective: To determine the prevalence of medically unexplained physical symptoms and the characteristics and use of health services in a group of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms and a group of patients with other illnesses.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective and multicenter study. We included 1,043 patients over 18 years of age from 30 primary care units of a government health institution, in 11 states of Mexico, attended by 39 family physicians. The prevalence of medically unexplained physical symptoms was determined and both groups with or without symptoms were compared with regard to drug use, laboratory and other studies, leaves of absence, and referrals in the last six months. The group with medically unexplained physical symptoms was diagnosed using the Patient Health Questionnaire and the diagnostic criteria of Reid et al. Emergency or terminal illnesses were excluded. The chi square test was used with a statistical significance of p < 0.05.
Results: Medically unexplained physical symptoms was diagnosed in 73 patients (7.0%). The majority were women (91.8%); their predominant symptom was from the gastrointestinal system in 56 (76.7%). This group had a greater use of clinical studies and referrals to other services (mean 1.1 vs. 0.5; p < 0.0001 and 0.6 vs. 0.8; p < 0.01, respectively).
Conclusions: The prevalence of medically unexplained physical symptoms was low, but with a greater impact on some health services. This could represent an overload in medical costs.

• 出版日期2016-9