Irritable bowel syndrome and its associated factors among Jordanian medical students: A cross-sectional study

Examining the Association Between Overweight, Obesity, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common yet debilitating disorder of gut-brain interaction, characterized by gut-brain axis dysregulation, visceral hypersensitivity, and other comorbidities. Obesity has been hypothesized to be a risk factor linked to IBS, albeit evidence remains conflicting. Given the growing global prevalence of obesity and IBS, we performed a meta-analysis examining their purported association.

METHODS

Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify studies reporting the prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) of IBS according to BMI categories. Random effects meta-analyses were used for the primary analysis.

RESULTS

From 1713 articles, 27 studies were included. Our findings showed that using study-defined categories for overweight, obese, and normal BMI, the odds of the diagnosis of IBS were not associated with overweight (OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.17; p = 0.772) or obese BMI (OR 1.11; 95% CI 0.91 to 1.37; p = 0.309). The meta-analysis of study-reported adjusted odds ratios of IBS among individuals living with overweight or obesity also did not yield significant results. Further sensitivity analysis by the Rome criteria demonstrated a statistically significant association between obese BMI and IBS in studies using the Rome IV criteria (OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.13 to 2.23; p < 0.01), with significant subgroup difference between studies using the Rome II, Rome III, and Rome IV criteria. Further sensitivity analysis using the different cut-off values and subgroup analysis by geographical territory did not yield significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, excess body weight may not be a primary driver of IBS risk. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies that account for changes in weight and other lifestyle factors, as well as detailed mechanistic investigations.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in the Arab World: A Systematic Review

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) across the globe. The prevalence rate of IBS varies across the regions. In the present systematic review, we aim to investigate the prevalence of IBS in Arab countries in recent years. To identify relevant studies, a comprehensive search was undertaken in various databases including CINAHL (Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Ultimate, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Furthermore, Google Scholar was also explored to identify relevant studies. The inclusion criteria included studies that assessed IBS in the Arab world and were published in the English language. Fifty-two cross-sectional studies from seven countries, encompassing 51,683 participants, were included. The majority of the included studies were conducted in Saudi Arabia (n=40), followed by Jordan (n=4) and Egypt (n=3). The highest prevalence rates were reported by studies from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Jordan. Low prevalence rates (<20%) were noted in 19 studies included in this systematic review. Female predominance in IBS prevalence was observed in most studies, while only two studies indicated higher prevalence in males. Key risk factors included family history, anxiety, depression, gastroesophageal reflux disease, low income, diabetes, low water intake, workload, occupation, food allergy, smoking, age, chronic diseases, and stress. IBS prevalence in the Arab world varies significantly. Female predominance was seen in the present systematic review as well.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 10-20% of the global population, primarily manifesting as functional issues leading to abdominal discomfort. Key contributors like genetics, psychological factors, weakened immunity, and environmental pollutants play significant roles. Regional variations exist, with prevalence rates ranging from 7-10% in certain areas like South Asia and the Middle East to as high as 20% in many Western countries. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its related risk factors among the general populace of the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, aiming to offer valuable insights for healthcare planning and intervention strategies. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, utilizing a validated self-administered questionnaire among residents of the Qassim region aged over 18 years. The questionnaire included demographic information about the participants and the validated Rome IV questionnaire for IBS in adults. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Qassim Research Ethics Committee, and data analysis was conducted using R script language version 4.3.3. A significance level of p < 0.05 was employed to interpret the results. Results Overall, significant associations were observed between IBS diagnosis and food allergy (AOR = 2.34, 99% CI: 1.27-4.29), family history of IBS (Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR) = 7.03, 99% CI: 3.51-15.74), and abdominal pain lasting more than six months (AOR = 2.54, 99% CI: 1.49-4.33). Conclusion This study highlights a high IBS prevalence (21.4%) in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region. While no overall soda-IBS link was found, males showed a protective effect. Significant associations were noted between food allergy, family history, and abdominal pain with IBS diagnosis, especially among females. Further research on gender disparities and familial and abdominal pain roles in IBS management is warranted.

Arabic websites assessment of irritable bowel syndrome: How trustworthy are they? A cross-sectional study

Background and Aims

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic GI disorder that affects people all over the world. Patients frequently look for information about their ailments online. Despite being widely and easily accessible, online information's quality and readability are under doubt. In this investigation, we assessed the effectiveness and usability of IBS Arabic websites found on significant search engines.

Methods

IBS-related search terms in Arabic were entered into two search engines (Google and YouTube), and the first 30 websites per word from Google, and the first 20 websites per word from YouTube were assessed for eligibility. Eligible Google websites were assessed for quality and readability, while YouTube websites were assessed for quality. Quality was assessed using the DISCERN score and the JAMA Benchmark. Readability was assessed using the automatic Arabic readability index (AARI). Associations between quality, readability, types of websites (medical/nonmedical), and video length were analyzed.

Results

For Google: A total of 48 websites were evaluated, mean DISCERN score was 40.4 (SD = 10.28) indicating fair quality. The mean JAMA score was 1.6 (SD = 0.69), with the readability being worse the higher the quality. Medical websites had higher quality scores than nonmedical ones. For YouTube: A total of 34 YouTube videos were evaluated, mean DISCERN score was 34.7 (SD = 7.35), indicating poor quality. The mean JAMA score was 1.4 (SD = 0.72). Medical websites had higher quality scores than nonmedical ones. There was no association between the quality of the videos and their length.

Conclusion

The majority of websites were of low to fair quality and required a high degree of readability. As a result, we advise (1) healthcare practitioners to offer helpful websites to their patients, and (2) the development of IBS-related websites under the guidance of experts, with the involvement of patients.