Overview

Overlapping Symptoms in Gastroenterology: Can You Diagnose These Patients?

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Format

Case-based Education

Time to Complete

2.25 hr(s).

Release Date

May 24, 2024

Expires On

May 24, 2025

A patient comes to your clinic stating she has experienced abdominal and bowel-related symptoms for the past five years. What’s next?

Challenges in diagnosing and managing patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders that have overlapping symptoms are often fueled by suboptimal diagnostic practices and failure to incorporate effective therapeutic approaches for both newly diagnosed and refractory patients. Moreover, delays in diagnosis are often patient-related; many people try to self-manage their condition and struggle with symptoms for 2 or more years before seeking help.

Join William Chey, MD, Hannibal Person, MD and Hilary Ugras, NP as they walk through blinded cases of patients with common and overlapping symptoms, and vote on the steps needed to get to a differential diagnosis. Put your skills to the test!

This activity is intended for gastroenterologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, and the multidisciplinary team who manage patients with gastrointestinal conditions.

A variety of gastrointestinal disorders have overlapping symptoms, which can make diagnosis difficult. In addition, these disorders cause significant quality of life (QOL) impairments for affected patients. Clinicians in gastroenterology settings play an important role in diagnosis and management of these diseases. Several therapeutic options currently exist for the management of overlapping gastrointestinal conditions with similar signs and symptoms; however, most patients remain dissatisfied with their treatment experience. Recently updated clinical practice guidelines and increased treatment options offer new opportunities for clinicians striving to provide optimal management for patients. This educational initiative will help clinicians differentiate among overlapping gastrointestinal diseases, address gaps in clinician recognition of QOL burdens, understand disease mechanisms, and integrate recent guidelines and available therapies within clinical practice.

Upon completion of this activity, learners will be able to:

• Differentiate gastrointestinal disorders with overlapping symptoms
• Discuss clinical and real-world evidence of therapies for gastrointestinal conditions with overlapping symptoms
• Optimize pharmacologic therapy based on latest evidence for patients with gastrointestinal conditions with overlapping symptoms

Provided by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL).

Supported by an independent medical education grant from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and AbbVie, Inc.

William D. Chey, MD, AGAF, FACG, FACP, RFF (Chair)
H. Marvin Pollard Professor of Gastroenterology
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI

Hannibal Person, MD FAAP

Assistant Professor

University of Washington, Department of Pediatrics

Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Medical Director, Gut-Brain Health Program

Medical Director, Center for Diversity and Health Equity

Seattle, WA

Hilary Rose Ugras, NP

Division of Gastroenterology

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, MA

The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) requires that the faculty participating in an accredited continuing education activity disclose all affiliations or other financial relationships within 24 months (1) with the manufacturers of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in an educational presentation and (2) with any ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to this activity.

The following financial relationships have been provided:

William D. Chey, MD, AGAF, FACG, FACP, RFF (Chair)

Sources of Funding for Research: Commonwealth Diagnostics International, QOL Medical, Salix/Valeant

Consulting Agreements: Abbvie, Alnylam, Ardelyx, Atmo, Biomerica, Gemelli, Ironwood, Isothrive, Nestle, Phathom, QOL Medical, Redhill, Salix/Valeant, Takeda, Urovant Sciences, Vibrant

Patents: My Nutrition Health, Digital Manometry, Rectal Expulsion Device

Hannibal Person, MD FAAP

No financial relationships to disclose

Hilary Rose Ugras, NP

No financial relationships to disclose

Discussion of Off-Label, Investigational, or Experimental Drug/Device Use: osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, secretagogues, prokinetics, antispasmodics, and sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 inhibitors are not approved for all gastrointestinal conditions in all patient populations

ACHL staff members and others involved with the planning, development, and review of the content for this activity have no relevant affiliations or financial relationships to disclose.

The content for this activity was developed independently of any ineligible company. All materials are included with permission. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantor(s).

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Recommendations involving clinical medicine in a continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in CME/CE in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.

This CME/CE activity might describe the off-label, investigational, or experimental use of medications and/or devices that may exceed their FDA-approved labeling. Physicians should consult the current manufacturers’ prescribing information for these products. ACHL requires the speaker to disclose that a product is not labeled for the use under discussion.

To receive credit, learners are required to view the online activity, and complete the posttest and evaluation. To receive credit, 60% must be achieved on the posttest. A certificate will be immediately available. There is no fee to participate in the activity or for the generation of the certificate.

For questions, contact kacias@achlcme.org or (877) 444-8435, ext. 159

The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completion as AAPA, AANP, and ANCC accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through their reciprocity agreements.

Karen Catino
kcatino@achlcme.org
Phone: (773)714-0705 ext. 128

Overview

Overlapping Symptoms in Gastroenterology: Can You Diagnose These Patients?

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