Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Bangladeshi Urban Community: Prevalence and Health Care Seeking Pattern |
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Authors: | Irin Perveen Mahmud Hasan Mohammed A Masud Mohammed M R Bhuiyan and Mohammed M Rahman |
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Institution: | Department of Gastroenterology, BIHS Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh;1Department of Gastroenterology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh;2Department of Gastroenterology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh;3Department of Gastroenterology, Bangubandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
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Abstract: | Background/Aims:Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, its prevalence is unknown, especially in the urban population of Bangladesh. This community-based study aimed to find out the prevalence of IBS and healthcare-seeking patterns using the Rome-II definition.Materials and Methods:A population-based cross-sectional survey of 1503 persons aged 15 years and above was carried out in an urban community of Bangladesh. The subjects were interviewed using a valid questionnaire based on Rome-II criteria in a home setting. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Programmers and the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.Results:A response rate of 97.2% yielded 1503 questionnaires for analysis. The prevalence of IBS was found to be 7.7% (n = 116) with a male to female ratio of 1:1.36 (49 vs. 67). “Diarrhoea-predominant IBS” (50%, n = 58) was the predominant IBS subgroup. Symptoms of abdominal pain associated with a change in stool frequency (100%) and consistency (88.8%) were quite common. All IBS symptoms were more prevalent among women (P < 0.000). In the past one year, 65.5% (n = 76) IBS subjects had consulted a physician with a slightly higher rate of women consulters (68.6 vs. 61.2%). The main predictor for healthcare-seeking was the presence of multiple dyspeptic symptoms.Conclusions:The prevalence of IBS in the urban community was found to be similar to that in rural communities. A higher rate of consultation was found among urban IBS subjects than in the rural subjects, with sex not seen to be a discriminator to seek consultation. |
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Keywords: | Healthcare-seeking irritable bowel syndrome prevalence Rome-II urban Bangladesh |
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