A 13-year time trend analysis of 3724 small bowel video capsule endoscopies and a forecast model during the financial crisis in Greece

INTRODUCTIONSince its introduction, small bowel video capsule endoscopy (VCE) use has evolved considerably. AIMEvaluation of the temporal changes of small bowel VCE utilization in three tertiary centers in Greece in Era 1 (2002–2009) and Era 2 (2010–2014) and the development a forecast model for future VCE use during 2015–2017. MATERIALS AND METHODSData from all small bowel VCE examinations were retrieved and analyzed in terms of the annual number of the performed examinations, their indications and the significance of their findings. RESULTSOverall, we evaluated 3724 VCE examinations. The number of studies peaked in 2009 (n=595) and then decreased to reach 225 in 2014. Overall, more (53.8 vs. 51.4%) patients with iron-deficiency anemia and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (IDA/OGIB) and fewer (10.7 vs. 14%) patients with chronic diarrhea were evaluated in Era 2 compared with Era 1 (P=0.046). In Era 2, there were more nondiagnostic examinations (39.5 vs. 29.3%, P