J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2024 Apr;30(2):208-219. 10.5056/jnm23090.

Factors Associated With the Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Miyagi Part of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Community-based Cohort Study

• Nakaya K
• Nakaya N
• Kogure M
• Hatanaka R
• Chiba I
• Kanno I
• Nagaie S
• Nakamura T
• Kanazawa M
• Ogishima S
• Fuse N
• Fukudo S
• Hozawa A

• KMID: 2555203
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5056/jnm23090

Abstract

Background/Aims
The objective of this research is to examine factors related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) prevalence in a large population-based study.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with participants in the Miyagi part of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project CommunityBased cohort study who completed the Rome II Modular Questionnaire. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) for the presence of IBS and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the reference group were calculated for each factor. Additionally, a stratified analysis was performed by sex and age group (20-49 years, 50-64 years, and ≥ 65 years).
Results
Among 16 252 participants, 3025 (18.6%) had IBS, comprising 750 men (15.5%) and 2275 women (19.9%). Multivariate ORs for the presence of IBS decreased significantly with each year of age (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99). Moreover, compared with the reference group, ORs for the presence of IBS were significantly higher in individuals whose home was partially damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, those with < 16 years of education, those who spent less time walking, those with high perceived stress (1.77, 1.57-2.01), those with high psychological distress (1.58, 1.36-1.82), and those with high symptoms of depression (1.76, 1.60-1.94). In stratified analyses, a significant relationship was found between psychological factors and IBS prevalence in all sex and age groups.
Conclusions
This large cross-sectional population-based cohort study identified several factors associated with IBS prevalence. Psychological factors were significantly associated with IBS prevalence across all age groups and sexes.

Keyword

Cross-sectional studies; Irritable bowel syndrome; Prevalence; Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Community-based cohort study