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Irritable bowel-type symptoms in HMO examinees

Prevalence, demographics, and clinical correlates

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Abstract

A study of irritable bowel-type symptoms in 1264 health examinees using a selfadministered questionnaire and psychological tests revealed they are common throughout adulthood. Of affected subjects 68% were female, and those with the more severe type (≥3 Manning criteria) were-predominantly female (80%). Fewer Asians than other racial/ethnic groups had these symptoms. Nongastrointestinal symptoms, physician visits, incontinence, laxative use, a stress effect on bowel pattern and abdominal pain, abdominal surgery, hysterectomy, childhood abuse, use of mind-altering drugs, depression, and anxiety were correlated with irritable bowel-type symptoms. Regression analysis found some of the clinical correlates were independent markers for irritable bowel-type symptoms and that sexual abuse was related to nongastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal surgery independent of irritable bowel-type symptoms. More severe irritable bowel-type symptoms were especially associated with nongastrointestinal symptoms, stress effects, sexual abuse, use of sedatives and oral narcotics, and a past alcohol problem. There are important demographic and clinical correlates with irritable bowel-type symptoms.

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Longstreth, G.F., Wolde-Tsadik, G. Irritable bowel-type symptoms in HMO examinees. Digest Dis Sci 38, 1581–1589 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01303163

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01303163

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