[Results of subjective and endoscopic studies on the incidence of upper digestive tract pathology among industrial workers].

This paper has been aimed at an evaluation of the prevalence of upper alimentary duct pathologies in an industrial population, as well as at an attempt to evaluate the value of subjective symptoms in screening tests. Altogether 975 subjects have been examined, but only 235 of them underwent endoscopic studies. The data on subjective symptoms have been collected from all the subjects, by way of a special questionnaire. In the group of those subjected to endoscopic studies, 38,7% have been found to have developed various diseases of the upper alimentary duct. Those predominating have been ulcers and deformations of pylorus and hiatal herniae. Ulcers and deformations of duodenum in smokers have been nearly twice those in nonsmokers. The results demonstrated that the prevalence of upper alimentary duct diseases in the industrial population concerned, has been higher than expected. To account for this, further epidemiological analytical studies must be undertaken. It has been found that within the screening studies of populations, aimed at the detection of upper alimentary duct diseases, questionnaire on abdominal pain is more reliable than the questions on dyspeptic symptoms.