Follow-up of patients with noncardiac chest pain. Value of esophageal testing.

Noncardiac chest pain may be a debilitating symptom. The utility of esophageal testing to enhance patient quality of life has been inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the impact of esophageal testing on patient well-being. Fifty-five patients undergoing esophageal testing were available for follow-up. Seventeen (31%) patients were classified in group 1: considered to have the esophagus as a likely etiology because of positive testing; 14 (25%) in group 2: possible contribution of the esophagus to symptoms; and 24 (44%) in group 3: unlikely esophageal etiology with negative testing. Thirty-four patients continued to be symptomatic at follow-up (median 112 days). The change in pain intensity from pretesting to follow-up was significant only for group 3 (P = 0.001). There was a decline in hospital utilization in all three groups. (Emergency room visit P = 0.004 group 1, hospital admissions P = 0.02, group 3). Group 1 and 2 patients tended to miss less work, social functions, and activities. Group 3 continued to stay in bed and avoid normal functions. Nine of 34 (26%) patients who were symptomatic at follow-up identified the esophagus as the source of symptoms. In all, 42% of group 1, 29% of group 2, and 18% of group 3 patients considered the esophagus to be the source of their symptoms. We conclude that esophageal testing does not always prevent the persistence of symptoms and that patients have misperceptions about testing results on follow-up.