Is female predominance in irritable bowel syndrome related to fibromyalgia?

• Published in: Rheumatology international 2004-03, Vol.24 (2), p.106-109
• Main Authors: AKKUS, Selami, SENOL, Altug, AYVACIOGLU, Naime Bayram, TUNC, Ercan, EREN, Ibrahim, ISLER, Mehmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Bowel disease; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Fibromyalgia - complications; Fibromyalgia - epidemiology; Fibromyalgia - psychology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Headache - complications; Humans; Irritable bowel syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - complications; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - epidemiology; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - psychology; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - complications; Mental Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Sex Factors; Sjogren's Syndrome - complications; Sleep Wake Disorders - complications; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
• ISSN: 0172-8172; 1437-160X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-003-0328-x

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are common functional diseases in adult women. The aim of this study was to investigate whether female predominance in IBS is related to FM. Fifty patients with IBS and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. All participants answered questionnaires including personal and medical history. In addition, psychiatric interviews were conducted. Patients were divided into two groups according to the coexistence of FM ( IBS+FM or IBS only). The data obtained from patients with or without FM and the control group were compared. There was a significant female predominance in patients with IBS+FM (83.4%, F:M=5:1), but IBS-only patients consisted mainly of males (59.4%, F:M=2:3) ( P