Survey Indicates Wider Prevalence of IBS Than Earlier Estimates Showed

A recent national survey indicated that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is somewhat more prevalent at 6.1% than previous estimates of 4.7%–5.3%, according to authors of a report in Gastroenterology.

Noting that the earlier prevalence estimates were calculated from studies with small sample sizes, the investigators set out to more precisely assess the prevalence of IBS through a survey of a dataset with almost 89,000 people in the United States.

“From May 3 to June 24, 2020, we performed an online survey described to participating adults ≥18 years old as a ‘national health survey,” the authors wrote. “We recruited a representative sample of people in the US to complete the survey, which included the Rome IV IBS questionnaire, National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) gastrointestinal scales, and questions on healthcare seeking behavior.”

Of the 88,607 people who completed the survey, 5,414 (6.1%) met the Rome IV criteria for IBS, including 1,838 (33.9%) who met criteria for mixed IBS; 1,819 with constipation-predominant IBS (33.6%); 1,521 with diarrhea-predominant IBS (28.1%); and 236 with IBS of no specific subtype (4.4%). Women had higher odds for IBS that compared to males, while non-Hispanic Whites had higher rates than racial/ethnic minorities. Approximately 68.2%–73.2% of patients reported ever seeking care for symptoms; 53.8%–58.9% sought care in the previous 12 months.

“Additional research is needed to determine if this higher prevalence is in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which this study was conducted,” the authors concluded.

Reference:

Almario CV, Sharabi E, Chey WD, Lauzon M, Higgins CS, Spiegel BMR. Prevalence and burden of illness of Rome IV irritable bowel syndrome in the United States: results from a nationwide cross-sectional study. Gastroenterology. Published online August 16, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2023.08.010