Prevalence of Isolated Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Adults in the Kingdom of Bahrain

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common gastrointestinal disorder encountered in clinical practice. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of isolated IBS and its associated demographic factors among the adult population in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting adults in Bahrain aged 18 years and above. Individuals with a prior diagnosis of any bowel ailment were excluded. Data was acquired via a self-administered questionnaire. IBS-specific questions were derived from the validated Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire for adults. The scoring methodology inherent to this questionnaire was used for the diagnosis of IBS. The data collection process remained anonymous. Data was compiled using Excel spreadsheets, and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was employed for analytical purposes. Associations between IBS and demographical or behavioral characteristics were explored using the Chi-square test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of isolated IBS, adopting the Rome IV criteria, was 156 (18.3%) and IBS-M (mixed) type was 40 (38.1%) of these. IBS was predominantly higher among females compared to males (340 vs 235; 22.6% vs 11.9%). The majority of IBS cases (121, 21%) were in the 41-50 age group. A statistically significant association has been demonstrated between IBS and GERD using Pearson's chi-squared test (p-value = 0.000). Similarly, it was linked to indigestion (p-value = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the percentage appeared to be significantly higher than the global prevalence of 4% (using Rome IV criteria), our findings were equivalent to the reports conducted in the Middle East region. Integrating holistic patient assessments, including quality of life metrics, along with anxiety, depression, and vitamin D deficiency, will further enhance the understanding of IBS in Bahrain and its impact on the patients and the health services utilization.

Overlap Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Its Impact on Quality of Life

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common gastrointestinal disorders that can negatively affect quality of life and healthcare costs. The co-occurrence of these conditions can lead to more complex symptomatology and therapeutic challenges. Therefore, understanding the extent of overlap between GERD and IBS is paramount. This study aims to estimate the overlap between GERD and IBS in Saudi Arabia and its impact on quality of life. Methods Patients with GERD at primary care clinics at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were the subjects of cross-sectional research. The patients were selected using a simple random sampling technique, and an electronic questionnaire was utilized to collect data. Symptoms of IBS were assessed based on Rome IV criteria, and quality of life was evaluated using the GERD quality of life tool. Results Of the 293 GERD patients, the prevalence of co-occurrence of IBS among GERD patients was 35.8%. The GERD health-related quality of life (GERD- HRQL) scores ranged from 0 to 50, with a median and interquartile range (IQR) of 14 (8.5-20). Those with GERD and IBS had a significantly higher GERD-HRQL score than the patients with GERD alone (11 vs. 9, p-value: 0.049). Furthermore, patients with GERD and IBS had a significantly higher GERD-HRQL score than the patients with IBS alone (15 vs. 11, p-value: 0.001). Of the total participants, 29.4% reported having abdominal pain in the last three months. The majority of the participants (55.6%) reported experiencing abdominal pain one to two times per week, while 22.2% reported experiencing it two to three days per month. Conclusion The high prevalence of IBS co-existence among GERD patients highlights the importance of considering both diseases in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. The study also found that patients with both GERD and IBS had a significantly lower quality of life than those with GERD or IBS alone.

The Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Its Relation to Psychiatric Disorders Among Citizens of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional bowel disorder. Many adults worldwide have symptoms associated with IBS and are responsible for most gastroenterology visits. The aim of this study is to illustrate and analyze the prevalence of IBS among the general population in Makkah Al-Mukarramah city using the Rome IV criteria in relation to psychiatric disorders.

METHODOLOGY

This was a cross-sectional study conducted on Makkah citizens. The study excluded all residents in Makkah without Saudi nationality or below the age of 18. The survey was created using Google forms and shared randomly on social media. The sample size was calculated using the OpenEpi website v3.0. The online questionnaire is composed of three sections: sociodemographic data, Rome IV criteria with the Bristol Stool Scale, and lastly the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) score for stress, anxiety, and depression. Data were analyzed using SPSS software for Windows V.23, and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was obtained for selected risk factors using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Nine hundred and twenty-one individuals from Makkah city completed the survey. The overall IBS prevalence was 20.19%. The commonest subtypes of IBS were IBS-M followed by IBS-C (53.8% and 22%, respectively). In the multiple regression analysis, stress (P = <0.001, OR = 2.473) was statistically significantly associated with IBS.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the prevalence of IBS among Makkah citizens is high. Stress was found to be a major risk factor for IBS.

Prematurity and functional gastrointestinal disorders in infancy: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are defined as a variable combination of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms that are not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. Their relationship with prematurity has been increasingly studied.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the frequency of FGIDs in preterm and term infants and to evaluate whether invasive procedures during the neonatal period in preterm infants are associated with greater likelihood of FGIDs in the first two years of life.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Controlled nested cross-sectional study conducted in a Brazilian university hospital.

METHODS

This was a controlled nested cross-sectional study on a retrospective cohort of infants born preterm who were compared with infants born at term regarding the presence of FGIDs. Medical consultations were conducted by a single pediatric gastroenterologist to obtain information on the gestational and neonatal periods and on clinical manifestations of the digestive tract. The Rome IV criteria for the diagnosis of FGIDs were used.

RESULTS

A total of 197 infants (< 24 months), including 99 preterm and 98 term infants, were studied. Infant regurgitation was more prevalent in term infants (35.1% and 15.6%; P < 0.001). The frequencies of other FGIDs (infant colic, functional constipation, functional diarrhea and infant dyschezia) in preterm infants did not differ from those of term infants (P > 0.05). No relationship was found between invasive procedures during the neonatal period and development of FGIDs in preterm infants.

CONCLUSION

Infants born preterm did not have higher frequency of FGIDs in the first two years of life.

Efficacy and Safety of Acotiamide Versus Mosapride in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia Associated With Meal-Induced Postprandial Distress Syndrome: A Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

 Acotiamide is a novel prokinetic drug that acts by enhancing the release of acetylcholine and is used in the treatment of functional dyspepsia-postprandial distress syndrome (FD-PDS). Mosapride is indicated to FD-PDS as per the Rome III treatment guidelines. Mosapride 5 mg three times daily (TID) is approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the treatment of FD-PDS. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of Acotiamide in comparison with Mosapride on FD-PDS.

METHODS

The 220 patients of either gender (aged 18-64 years) with active PDS included in the study were centrally randomized 1:1 to receive either 100 mg Acotiamide (test product) or 5 mg Mosapride (reference product) TID for four weeks. Responder rates for the overall treatment effect (OTE) at the end of four weeks were the primary efficacy endpoint. Secondary efficacy endpoints included the elimination rate of postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating, and early satiation. The study also evaluated the OTE at each week, individual symptom scores, and quality of life (QoL) assessed by the Short Form-Nepean Dyspepsia Index questionnaire (SF-NDI). The safety endpoints included assessments of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

RESULTS

 At the end of four weeks, the responders in the Acotiamide versus Mosapride group for OTE was 98% versus 93.27% in the per-protocol (PP) population. Among the intent to treat (ITT) population, the comparison of Acotiamide versus Mosapride stood at 95.15% versus 89.81%. Secondary efficacy endpoints were significantly improved with 100 mg TID Acotiamide, which was evident from the improvement in postprandial fullness (14.56%), upper abdominal bloating (15.53%), early satiation (10.68%), and QoL (13.7 ± 4.67).

CONCLUSIONS

 Our study results demonstrated that Acotiamide is effective, safe, and well-tolerated and had significantly improved the QoL over a four-week treatment period in FD-PDS patients. The efficacy and safety profiles of Acotiamide were similar to Mosapride.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Prevalence and Risk Factors in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Background The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) worldwide remains heterogeneous. In Saudi Arabia, there are insufficient studies on the prevalence of IBS among the general population, yet the prevalence of IBS in certain professional groups has been reported. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of IBS and its associated risk factors in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia. Methods An online cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia, using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. The data were collected using a web-based validated Rome IV questionnaire. The Rome IV criteria are used to diagnose functional gut disorders, including IBS. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the selected risk factors. Results The survey included 1554 participants with an overall IBS prevalence of 16%. Women had a higher incidence of IBS than men (55.3% and 44.7%, respectively). IBS-mixed (32.66%) and constipation-predominant (32.25%) were the most common subtypes. In multiple regression analysis, female gender (OR = 1.503, p-value = 0.037), stress (OR = 2.386, p-value = 0.000), anxiety (OR = 1.943, p-value = 0.000), and tobacco smoking (OR = 2.093, p-value = 0.001) showed a statistically significant association with IBS. Conclusions The prevalence of IBS in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia is high. Female sex, tobacco smoking, stress, and anxiety are the major risk factors associated with IBS.

Efficacy and Safety of Orally Administered Acotiamide Extended-Release Tablets Among Functional Dyspepsia-Postprandial Distress Syndrome Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study

Background: Acotiamide, is the world's first-in-class, prokinetic drug and world’s first approved treatment for postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD). An extended-release (ER) formulation of this drug product, developed first-time in the world has been evaluated in phase 3, a comparative trial to explore the efficacy and safety in patients with FD-PDS.

Methods: In this study, 219 patients with FD-PDS aged 18-65 years were randomized (1:1) to receive either acotiamide ER 300 mg once daily or acotiamide 100 mg three times daily for four weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was responder rates for the overall treatment effect (OTE) at end of week 4. Secondary efficacy endpoints included OTE at each week, elimination rate of postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating and early satiation, improvement of individual symptom scores, and quality of life (QoL). The safety endpoints included assessments of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

Results: The responder rate for OTE at the end of the four week period, in acotiamide ER 300 mg OD versus acotiamide 100 mg TID group was 92.66% and 94.39% (97.5% CI −8.3,4.8), respectively, in per-protocol (PP) population and 92.66% and 92.73% (97.5% CI −7.0,6.8), respectively, in intent to treat (ITT) population. All other secondary efficacy endpoints, including QoL, were significantly improved with acotiamide ER 300 mg. Both the formulations of acotiamide significantly improved symptom severity and eliminated meal-related symptoms in patients with FD. Adverse events were reported by 7.9% of patients in acotiamide ER 300 mg and 9.2% in acotiamide 100 mg patients; the most common adverse event reported was a headache.

Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of acotiamide ER 300 mg once daily were observed to be comparable to acotiamide immediate release 100 mg thrice daily. A significant improvement in QoL over a four-week treatment period in FD-PDS patients was observed.