J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2016 Oct;22(4):661-669. 10.5056/jnm15160.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome–like Symptoms in Japanese Patients with Inactive Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Tomita T
• Kato Y
• Takimoto M
• Yamasaki T
• Kondo T
• Kono T
• Tozawa K
• Yokoyama Y
• Ikehara H
• Ohda Y
• Oshima T
• Fukui H
• Tanaka S
• Shima M
• Watari J
• Miwa H

• KMID: 2433459
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5056/jnm15160

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Few studies are available that have investigated the risk factors for overlapping irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms in patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present study has 3 objectives: (1) to assess the prevalence of IBS-like symptoms in Japanese patients with inactive IBD using Rome III criteria, (2) to examine the relationship of IBS-like symptoms to health related quality of life (HR-QOL), and (3) to investigate associations for developing IBS-like symptoms in patients with inactive IBD.
METHODS
IBS-like symptoms were evaluated using the Rome III questionnaire for functional gastrointestinal disorders. HR-QOL and hospital anxiety and depression scale were evaluated.
RESULTS
IBS-like symptoms were found in 17.5% (7/40) of patients with inactive ulcerative colitis, 27.1% (29/107) of patients with inactive Crohn's disease (CD), and 5.3% (23/438) of healthy control subjects. The QOL level was significantly lower and anxiety score was significantly higher in inactive CD patients with IBS-like symptoms than in those without such symptoms (P = 0.003, P = 0.009). Use of anti-anxiety drugs was associated with the presence of IBS symptoms (P = 0.045). HR-QOL score was lower and anxiety score was higher in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis, but the difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of IBS-like symptoms in inactive IBD patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls. Inactive CD patients with IBS-like symptoms has low QOL and anxiety; suggesting that anxiety may be associated with symptom development in such patients.

Keyword

Anxiety; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Irritable bowel syndrome; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Anti-Anxiety Agents
Anxiety
Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Colitis, Ulcerative
Depression
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases*
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Prevalence*
Quality of Life
Risk Factors
Anti-Anxiety Agents