Current patterns of irritable bowel syndrome in Taiwan: the Rome II questionnaire on a Chinese population

Abstract

SummaryBackground : Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition seen in Western countries. In Asia, however, it is less known and even less studied.Aim : To determine the prevalence and social impact of irritable bowel syndrome as well as the health‐seeking behaviour of irritable bowel syndrome patients in TaiwanMethods : Using the modified Rome II questionnaire, a survey was carried out in a population receiving physical check‐up (n = 2865).Results : The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in Taiwan was 22.1% and 17.5% (κ = 0.73) according to the Rome II and I criteria, respectively. No gender difference was found between subjects with and without irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome subjects were likely to undertake an excessive number of physician‐visits (P < 0.01). Such subjects were often absent from work/school, with more days of absenteeism than irritable bowel syndrome‐free subjects (P < 0.01). They also suffered obvious sleep disturbance (P < 0.01). Nearly half of the irritable bowel syndrome subjects were ‘consulters’, and they were more likely to have frequent physician‐visits, suffer from work/school absenteeism, and endure sleep disturbance and bowel symptoms than irritable bowel syndrome nonconsulters (P < 0.05).Conclusions : Irritable bowel syndrome is common in a Chinese population of Taiwan. Similar to irritable bowel syndrome in the West, it also involves significant social and medical burdens. However, in the irritable bowel syndrome subjects of Taiwan there is no gender difference, and more irritable bowel syndrome subjects will seek physician consultations, which may be due to Taiwan's easily accessible and affordable heath care facilities.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Singapore and Its Association with Dietary, Lifestyle, and Environmental Factors

“…The prevalence of IBS was 20.9% using the Rome III criteria 15 However, there were limited published data on the prevalence of Rome III IBS in Asia. The reported prevalence of Rome III IBS was 13.1% in Japan, 16 10.9% in Malaysia (Malay population) 17 and 9.0% in Korea.…”

Sexual Abuse Is Associated With an Abnormal Psychological Profile and Sleep Difficulty in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Taiwan

“…17 Briefly, the presence of a Rome III diagnosis of IBS was based on the presence of recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 3 days/month for the past 3 months that involved 2 of three features: improvement in symptoms with defecation and onset associated with a change in the frequency of stools or in the form (appearance) of stools.…”

“…[14][15][16] Sleep difficulty is also common in IBS patients. 17 Brain-gut dysfunction could be the underlying pathophysiology responsible for the extra-intestinal symptoms in IBS patients described above. 18 A history of childhood sexual abuse is a well-known major risk factor for psychological problems in adulthood.…”

Gender difference on the symptoms, health‐seeking behaviour, social impact and sleep quality in irritable bowel syndrome: a Rome II‐based survey in an apparent healthy adult Chinese population in Taiwan

“…22 Despite this fact, it is unclear whether Asia IBS subjects express a similar gender difference in presenting symptoms, health-seeking behaviour or QoL as described in Western IBS. Asian people live differently from their Western counterparts in terms of genetics, cultures, diets, socio-economic environments and even the health insurance systems.…”

“…Furthermore, IBS subjects are also prone to be absent from work/school for GI symptoms 4 or even any other kind of illness, and complaining of poor sleep quality. 22,23 It appears no study has evaluated the impact of the gender factor in these mentioned social manifestations as well as sleep quality in IBS subjects. Therefore, our study aims to address the followings questions: (i) Is there a gender difference in a community population using the new Rome II definition for IBS in Taiwan?…”