Prevalence and impact of self-reported irritable bowel symptoms in the general population

Van den Houte, K.; Carbone, F.; Pannemans, J.; Corsetti, M.; Fischler, B.; Piessevaux, H.; Tack, J.

Abstract

Background and aims
The symptom-based diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have recently been revised in the Rome IV consensus. On the other hand, with rising public awareness of IBS, self-diagnosis and self-management is also increasing. We compared the prevalence and impact of Rome IV-based IBS vs self-diagnosed IBS in the general population.

Methods
An internet panel filled out an online survey on bowel symptoms and their impact on health care utilization and daily activities.

Results
A representative internet panel of 1012 individuals completed the online survey. Bowel symptoms were present in 68.6% of the population. Of these, 21% consulted a physician for these symptoms in the last year and 42% earlier. Rome IV IBS criteria were fulfilled by 5.5%, and these were younger and more likely to be female. In this subset, 37% had consulted a physician for IBS symptoms in the preceding year and 29% had done so earlier. A colonoscopy had been performed in 22%. Based on a brief description, 17.6% of the population self-identified as suffering from IBS (p 

Citation

Van den Houte, K., Carbone, F., Pannemans, J., Corsetti, M., Fischler, B., Piessevaux, H., & Tack, J. (2019). Prevalence and impact of self-reported irritable bowel symptoms in the general population. United European Gastroenterology Journal, 7(2), 307-315. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050640618821804

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 20, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Dec 22, 2018
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Mar 15, 2019
• Journal: United European Gastroenterology Journal
• Print ISSN: 2050-6406
• Electronic ISSN: 2050-6414
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 307-315
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2050640618821804
• Keywords: Epidemiology, health care resource utilization, irritable bowel syndrome, medication use, sick leave
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1657938
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2050640618821804