Quality of life and psychometric evaluation of patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome: an observational cohort study

Bridging the Gap: A Comprehensive Study on Traditional Chinese Medicine Strategies for Managing Adult Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Recent studies have witnessed the incorporation of herbal medicine into the management of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions (DGBIs), reflecting a paradigm shift toward holistic healing modalities. However, there still exists a substantial gap in comprehending the utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), particularly beyond the confines of China. This study endeavors to bridge this knowledge gap by meticulously identifying existing guidelines, critically reviewing TCM practices, and crafting contemporary treatment recommendations. We systematically searched several databases to retrieve related evidence in June 2023. Firstly, we employed the AGREE II tool to evaluate the recommended for use of TCM in the treatment of IBS, establishing a structured treatment selection hierarchy for different TCM patterns of IBS patients. Subsequently, we conducted an expert questionnaire to gain insights into the common treatment methods and medication choices practiced by clinical TCM doctors. Based on CM theory and experts' opinions, IBS with predominant Diarrheal (IBS-D) is divided into five Chinese medicine syndrome patterns, and IBS with predominant Constipation (IBS-C) is classified to four. A total of 22[Formula: see text]CM prescriptions were recommended for the management of IBS, 13 for IBS-D and 9 for IBS-C. The findings provide IBS patients with enhanced treatment choices while offering clinical physicians more specific treatment regimens. This research is the first to conduct a comprehensive study that combines guidelines with real clinical practices in the realm of TCM IBS treatment. This serves as a foundation for providing more personalized treatment options and improving the quality of life for patients.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Physicians at General Governmental Hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It significantly impacts the quality of life and imposes a financial burden on healthcare systems. Previous studies have shown varying prevalence rates of IBS among different populations. Objective This study aims to determine the prevalence of IBS among physicians working in general governmental hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to analyze the associated demographic and lifestyle factors. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study of 391 physicians from King Fahad and East Jeddah General Hospitals used an anonymous electronic survey covering demographics, health, lifestyle, and the Birmingham IBS Symptoms Questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, with p < 0.05 as significant. Results The prevalence of IBS among the participants was 45% (n=176). Significant associations were found between Birmingham scores and various demographic and lifestyle factors. Younger age groups (25-29 years, 51.4%, n=201) had higher mean ranks (212.98) compared to older age groups, with a p-value of .009. Males (54.5%, n=213) had a significantly higher mean rank (213.37) compared to females (45.5%, n=178; 175.22) (p<.001). Non-smokers (38.1%, n=149) had a significantly higher mean rank (214.27) compared to smokers (61.9%, n=242; 166.33) (p<.001). Physical exercise was associated with a lower prevalence of IBS symptoms, with non-exercisers (39.9%, n=156) having a higher mean rank (207.67) compared to exercisers (60.1%, n=235; 178.42) (p=.012). Additionally, 46.3% (n=181) of participants reported missing work due to IBS symptoms. Conclusion The study found a high prevalence of IBS among physicians in Jeddah, with significant associations between IBS symptoms and various demographic and lifestyle factors. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness, regular screening, and support for physicians suffering from IBS to improve their quality of life and job performance.

Impact of Work Hours on the Quality of Life of Adult Employees With Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Saudi Arabia

Introduction Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. There is still debate about the pathophysiology of IBS. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and alternating bowel movements, but the severity differs among the patients, which affects their quality of life. Our main aim in this study is to find the impact of work hours on the quality of life of adult employees with irritable bowel syndrome in Saudi Arabia. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered survey including employees over 18 years old in Saudi Arabia. The survey was designed in three different parts. The first part is demographics and personal information, The second concentrates on IBS using the Rome-IV criteria while the third part reviewed the participant's quality of life by utilizing the quality-of-life scale (QOLS). Results The total number of participants was 1800; most of the population were females (954; 53%) and there were 846 (47%) males. The study showed that 27.11% were diagnosed with IBS. Furthermore, the result revealed significant differences between working hours, with employees who work more than nine hours (33.7%) being more affected by IBS than others. Nevertheless, significant independent risk factors for IBS were QOLS (OR = 0.988; 95% CI (0.981, 0.995), p = .001), being an employee in free business (OR = 1.755; 95% CI (1.134, 2.714) p = .012), working between 6 and 9 hours (OR = 0.623; 95% CI (0.404, 0.961), p = .032). Conclusion The impact of work hours on adult employees with IBS in Saudi Arabia has been noticed; the results showed that the prevalence of IBS among females is higher; employees working more than nine hours with a medium to sedentary work nature are more vulnerable to developing IBS. We suggest that IBS patients should address their needs to their employers.

The impact of gastrointestinal conditions on psychosocial factors associated with the biopsychosocial model of health: A scoping review

The increase in the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions is an emerging global health concern. Studies of the impact on the lives of individuals living with GI conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) typically focus on biological elements, such as symptomology and treatment efficacy. Comparatively fewer studies have explored the psychological and social aspects of GI conditions, which could provide key information needed to better understand the impact of GI conditions on people and their lived experiences. In this review, existing literature concerning the psychosocial factors and well-being outcomes associated with GI conditions was reviewed using a scoping methodology. Sixty-eight studies were selected for inclusion. Of these studies, the well-being outcomes most frequently addressed, for both IBS and IBD, were quality of life and health-related quality of life, and the most frequently addressed psychosocial factors were social support and coping. These outcomes are largely consistent with those identified for other medical conditions explored using the biopsychosocial model of health, with some exploration of the lived experiences of those with a GI condition.

"Association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risk of irritable bowel syndrome: a case-control study"

BACKGROUND

Pathophysiology of IBS is not well recognized; however, several studies have shown the possible relationship between diet and risk of IBS. We assessed the ability of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) to predict the risk of IBS.

METHODS

The subjects were 155 IBS cases and 310 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (aged ≥18 years). The participants were recruited from June, 2019 to March, 2020. IBS was recognized using the Rome IV criteria. DII score was computed based on dietary intake using a 168-item FFQ. The DII score was calculated based on energy-adjusted amounts of nutrients using residual method. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable odds ratios (ORs).

RESULTS

The mean DII score was significantly higher among IBS patients in comparison to healthy controls (0.78 ± 2.22 vs. - 0.39 ± 2.27). In crude model, increase in DII as continuous variable was associated with a significant increase in the risk of IBS (OR (95% CI): 1.26 (1.1-15.38)). Furthermore, the association remained significant even after adjusting for age and sex (OR (95% CI): 1.28 (1.1-17.41)) and after multivariate adjustment (OR (95% CI): 1.38 (1.2-1.56)). In crude, age and sex adjusted and multivariate-adjusted models subjects in fourth quartile of DII had higher OR in comparison to subjects in first quartile.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a possible positive association between a pro-inflammatory diet and the risk of IBS. Thus, encouraging intake of more anti-inflammatory dietary factors and reducing intake of pro-inflammatory factors may be a strategy for reducing risk of IBS.