Defecation symptoms in primary health care patients with irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND

The objectives of the present study were to (a) measure the prevalence of defecation symptoms in IBS, (b) investigate the relationship between stool consistency and defecation symptoms in IBS, and (c) investigate the association of defecation symptoms with health-related quality of life (HRQL) and self-reported stress in patients with IBS cared for in a primary health care setting.

METHODS

Ten primary health care centres joined the study. 282 patients with IBS as well as 372 non-IBS controls filled in gastrointestinal symptom diaries prospectively for two weeks as well as the Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS14) and the EuroQol barometer to measure perceived stress and HRQL, respectively.

RESULTS

Incomplete evacuation was present in 51% vs. 21% of the stools among the IBS patients and the non-IBS controls, respectively. The need to strain during defecation was existing in 41% vs. 33% of the stools for the IBS patients and the non-IBS controls, respectively. Urgency was experienced in 37% of the stools in the IBS patients compared with 18% of the stools in the non-IBS controls. Patients with IBS experienced in a significant higher degree of overlapping symptoms per stool (p < 0.001 to p = 0.007). The occurrence of all defecation symptoms in the same patient was related to decreased HRQL, and increased stress (p = 0.001 to p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

An overlap between IBS and symptoms from the anorectal region related to defecation was found in a primary health care population. Defecation symptoms are very common in primary care IBS-patients, it co-occurs with increased self-perceived stress, and decreased HRQL.

Symptoms and health experience in irritable bowel syndrome with focus on men

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder with a predominance in women; IBS in men is less studied. The present study evaluated symptoms as well as health and social experiences of men with IBS.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 293 patients with IBS (64 men) and 363 non-IBS controls (62 men). Gastrointestinal symptom diaries were filled in prospectively, and data on comorbidities and healthcare-seeking behavior were assessed by questionnaires. Men with IBS were compared with men without IBS and women with IBS.

KEY RESULTS

Compared with women with IBS, men with IBS had fewer contacts with the healthcare system, fewer psychiatric comorbidities, fewer sleeping problems, and less chronic pain. Urgency to defecate and nausea were less common, and stool frequency was higher in men with IBS. There was no difference between men with and without IBS in terms of educational level, satisfaction with household economy, or living with a partner. In contrast, women with IBS more often lived alone, were more often dissatisfied with household economy, and had a lower educational level than women without IBS. Men with IBS had the same proportion of full-time employment as men without IBS but in contrast, the proportion of women with IBS in full-time employment was only 34%, compared to 50% of the women without IBS.

CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES

The present study improves the understanding of men's experiences of IBS and suggests that sex and gender may be integrated into the biopsychosocial model of IBS.