Analysis of Medically Unspecified Disease in the General Outpatient Department of a Comprehensive Tertiary Hospital

Background Patients with medically unspecified disease (MUD) may present at any disease stage, with clinical manifestations and test results that do not lead to a clear diagnosis, posing a common challenge in clinical settings. General practitioners, with their patient-centered approach and holistic medical models, have an advantage in diagnosing and treating MUD. Standardizing the diagnosis and treatment of MUD is a crucial skill for general practitioners. However, there is currently a lack of data on the treatment of MUD in general outpatient clinics of comprehensive tertiary hospitals. Objective This study examines the prevalence of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) in general outpatient clinics, offering insights for general practitioners in tertiary hospitals on diagnosing and treating MUS. It also serves as a foundation for standardizing the diagnostic and treatment protocols for MUD. Methods Select patients diagnosed with medically unspecified disease (MUD) who visited the outpatient department of our general medicine department between September 2021 and September 2022. Collect basic information and follow-up data for one year post-visit, and analyze the reasons for the initial visit and subsequent follow-up outcomes. Results A total of 576 patients with MUD received treatment at the general outpatient department, with an average age of (44.97 ± 13.50) years. There was no statistically significant difference in the age distribution among male and female MUD patients (P > 0.05). Chest pain was the most common reason for treatment of medically unspecified disease in the general outpatient department. Among patients treated for chest pain, there were more males than females (P < 0.05), and a greater number of patients were treated in specialized clinics compared to general clinics (P < 0.05), The majority of patients remained undiagnosed and had either 0 or no more than 2 visits within a year. There was no significant correlation between anxiety scores and age, although female patients, those with chest pain, healthcare staff, and non-smokers reported higher levels of self-anxiety. Conclusion MUD patients have various reasons for seeking medical treatment. General practitioners in comprehensive tertiary hospitals should make full use of relevant resources, attach importance to the full evaluation of the psychological status of MUD patients, standardize the diagnosis and treatment process of MUD, and provide more comprehensive diagnosis and treatment services.