Relationship of Dyspeptic Symptoms with Dinner to Breakfast Time Interval

Objective: To ascertain the relationship of dyspeptic symptoms with dinner to breakfast time interval. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Gastroenterology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi Pakistan, from Aug 2021 to Apr 2022. Methodology: We enrolled patients of either gender, between 18 to 50 years of age, with persistent symptoms of dyspepsia for at least two months and/or confirmed cases of dyspepsia. Written, informed consent was taken from all patients prior to recruiting them. Patients visiting outpatient department with symptoms of dyspepsia and/or confirmed cases of dyspepsia were interviewed to fill out Short-form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (SF-LDQ). Results: Total 400 patients were studied with nearly half of the participants being female 188 (47%) with 72(18%), 87(21.8%), 113(28.2%) and 128(32%) patients had dinner to breakfast duration of ≤8 hours, 8.1-10 hours, 10.1-12 hours and >12 hours, respectively. There was moderate positive correlation between fasting duration and SF-LDQ (r=0.46, p<0.001). Nightly fasting duration of more than 10 hours had increased risk of indigestion, heartburn and regurgitation. Conclusion: Longer duration between dinner and breakfast was found to be associated with increased likelihood of dyspeptic symptoms including indigestion, heartburn and regurgitation.