American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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EGD is recommended for patients with dyspepsia who are above which age?

The correct answer is: 50

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is an important diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients experiencing dyspeptic symptoms. In clinical practice, specific age thresholds are used to determine when patients with dyspepsia should undergo EGD to rule out serious underlying conditions, such as malignancies. In this context, the recommendation for patients over the age of 50 to undergo EGD is based on guidelines aimed at early detection of gastrointestinal cancers, particularly gastric cancer and esophageal cancer. The age of 50 serves as a cutoff point where the risk of these malignancies significantly increases, making it prudent to perform an EGD when patients present with dyspeptic symptoms. This recommendation reflects a balance between the risk of potential complications from the procedure and the need for thorough evaluation in individuals with concerning symptoms, particularly as age can increase the prevalence of significant gastrointestinal diseases. Thus, patients age 50 or older with dyspepsia are viewed as a population that requires further investigation to exclude serious pathology, making the choice of age 50 for EGD referral appropriate in clinical guidelines.