Irritable Bowel Syndrome Prevalence among Participants of Woodstock Rock Festival in Poland Based on Rome IV Criteria Questionnaire

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among Lebanese adults: unidentified IBS and associated factors

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorders, but the condition is still underdiagnosed. The high of rate of unidentified IBS by patients can be related to different factors. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of unidentified IBS among Lebanese adults and investigate the role of socio-demographic factors, anxiety, depression, insomnia and eating attitudes on IBS diagnosis.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among Lebanese adults older than 18 years between June 2022 and December 2022, using a self-reporting questionnaire distributed via social media.

RESULTS

A total of 425 participants was enrolled in the study with around 184 (46.8%) having a possible unidentified IBS. Higher psychological distress (aOR = 1.07) and insomnia severity (aOR = 1.08) were significantly associated with higher odds of having possible unidentified IBS whereas a higher household crowding index (aOR = 0.67) was significantly associated with lower odds of having possible IBS. The correlation of eating attitudes with cigarette smoking (aOR = 1.33; p = .025; 95% CI 1.04; 1.70) and insomnia severity with cigarette smoking (aOR = .89; p = .023; 95% CI .80; .98) were significantly associated with the presence of possible IBS. In nonsmokers, higher psychological distress (aOR = 1.07) and insomnia severity (aOR = 1.10) were significantly associated with higher odds of having possible IBS. In smokers, higher BMI (aOR = .78) was significantly associated with lower odds of having possible IBS, whereas higher eating attitudes scores (more inappropriate eating) (aOR = 1.40) were significantly associated with higher odds of having possible IBS.

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted the implication of raising awareness about IBS among the Lebanese population to promote early diagnosis and minimize the rate of unidentified IBS by patients. Initiation of appropriate treatment plans, tailored symptomatic management approach, and diet programs should be highly encouraged.

Functional bowel symptoms in the general population (Review)

Several patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) do not seek medical attention for their symptoms. When patients with IBS seek help, the majority of them are handled at primary healthcare centers, whereas research studies are performed at tertiary healthcare centers. The present study aimed to summarize findings from >4,000 participants of the general population included in the Malmö Offspring Study (inclusion rate 46.7%). The participants were clinically examined, their blood and fecal samples collected, and their questionnaires completed. The participants were divided into subjects with or without self‑reported IBS and those having functional gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in the past 2 weeks. The presence of IBS and GI symptoms in the participants were associated with each other. Zonulin levels did not differ between participants with or without GI diseases and were not associated with the degree of GI symptoms. The parameters low body weight at birth and small for gestational age were associated with the degree of the symptoms' influence on daily life. IBS and GI symptoms were positively associated with Blautia abundance. Beta‑diversity differed between participants with or without these two conditions. Positive correlations were noted between the degree of diarrhea and the mean 24‑h measurements of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate. Both IBS and GI symptoms were associated with female sex, smoking, stress, poor sleeping habits, unemployment, drug use, and a family history of GI diseases, whereas younger age was inversely associated with IBS and its associated symptoms. In conclusion, only a limited number of medical findings could be identified in participants with IBS and GI symptoms, whereas sociodemographic and environmental conditions were associated with these entities.