Gastrointestinal symptom severity in irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and the general population

• Published in: Neurogastroenterology and motility 2017-05, Vol.29 (5), p.np-n/a
• Main Authors: Lee, A. D., Spiegel, B. M., Hays, R. D., Melmed, G. Y., Bolus, R., Khanna, D., Khanna, P. P., Chang, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Constipation - complications; Deglutition Disorders - complications; Diarrhea - complications; Female; Gastroesophageal Reflux - complications; gender; Humans; inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - complications; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - epidemiology; irritable bowel syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - complications; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea - complications; Severity of Illness Index; symptom severity; Vomiting - complications
• ISSN: 1350-1925; 1365-2982
• DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13003

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients report similar gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, yet comparisons of symptom severity between groups and with the general population (GP) are lacking. Methods We compared Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) GI symptom scales measuring gastro‐esophageal reflux (GER), disrupted swallowing, diarrhea, bowel incontinence, nausea/vomiting, constipation, belly pain, and gas/bloating in: (i) USA GP sample, (ii) IBS patients, and (iii) IBD patients from tertiary care and community populations. Symptom severity scores were based on T‐score metric with mean 50±10 (standard deviation) relative to the GP. Key Results Of 1643 patients enrolled, there were 253 IBS patients (68% F, mean age 45±15 years), 213 IBD patients (46% F, mean age 41±14 years), and 1177 GP subjects (57% F, mean age 46±16 years). IBS patients reported greater severity of GER, disrupted swallowing, nausea/vomiting, belly pain, gas/bloating, and constipation symptoms than their IBD counterparts (all P