ABSTRACT
Elderly people frequently have symptoms of fullness and appetite loss due to impaired gastric motor activity. These symptoms may cause malnutrition, immunosuppression and other complications. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of aging and gender differences on gastric motility and gastric emptying in the healthy elderly subjects. In a comparative study of the myoelectrical activity by ctaneous electrogastrography [EGG] and ultrasonographic [US] findings for 60 healthy elderly volunteers was done. The subjects were 28 males and 32 females over 60 years old [60-70 and >/= years], ages ranged 60-84 years with mean of 66.1 +/- 5.54 years old. Full history and clinical examination with biochemical investigations, pelviabdominal ultrasound and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy after a written consent were done, and revealed no abnormalities. Gastric emptying of liquids by US after overnight fasting and after drinking 500ml/fluid at 37 degree for half and full emptying time, and fasting EGG for one hour followed by another one hour postprandial after a test meal were recorded. Variables assessed by EGG included, incidence 3 cycle per minute [CPM], percentage power at 3 CPM and power at DF, pre and postprandial and dominant frequency [DF] and power ratio [PR]. Among healthy elderly the US half [12.1 +/- 4.4] and full [28.1 +/- 7.75] gastric emptying times were not statistically significant correlated to ages or genders. Different EGG parameters were statistically non significant correlated to half and full emptying times of liquids by US except that half emptying time was significant inversely correlated to% 3 CPM postprandial [p>0.01]. Ages and genders were non significant affected by some EGG parameters,% 3 CPM and% power at 3 CPM, pre and postprandial and PR [p>0.05]. Conversely elderly aged >/= 70 years old showed significant decrease DF postprandial [2.2 +/- 0.1 CPM] [p<0.05], and significant increase of power at DF [p<0.05] pre and postprandial than those aged 60-d70 years old with predominant females [53.4%] in both ages postprandial than males [23.3%]. In conclusion, there was limited correlation between US and EGG parameters while ages and genders can affect EGG parameters. DF [ratio of the incidence of the 3CPM wave-gastric intrinsic frequency] was diminished postprandial with aging process resulting in delayed gastric peristalsis and emptying time, indicating reduction in gastric motor activity with sense of early satiety and anorexia. The pre and postprandial contractile peak were high [power at DF] in aged females postprandial more aging elderly [males and females] pre and postprandial, which may indicate gastric distension. These data allow easy monitoring of gastrointestinal motor activity in order to screen healthy elderly. Thus we suggest [1] More comparative studies in multi-centers considering body mass on large number of healthy elderly to establish normal values [2] to study the effect of diseases and medications on EGG parameters, [3] Application of GG in disease diagnosis and follow up