| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2009 | Volume
: 15
| Issue : 4 | Page : 239-243 |
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Irritable bowel syndrome in a Bangladeshi urban community: Prevalence and health care seeking pattern
Irin Perveen1, Mahmud Hasan2, Mohammed A Masud3, Mohammed M.R Bhuiyan4, Mohammed M Rahman3
1 Department of Gastroenterology, BIHS Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2 Department of Gastroenterology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3 Department of Gastroenterology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
4 Department of Gastroenterology, Bangubandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Correspondence Address:
Irin Perveen
B-3, E-2, Agargaon New Colony, Dhaka - 1207
Bangladesh
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1319-3767.56099
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Background/Aims : Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, its prevalence is unknown, especially in the urban population of Bangladesh. This community-based study aimed to find out the prevalence of IBS and healthcare-seeking patterns using the Rome-II definition. Materials and Methods : A population-based cross-sectional survey of 1503 persons aged 15 years and above was carried out in an urban community of Bangladesh. The subjects were interviewed using a valid questionnaire based on Rome-II criteria in a home setting. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Programmers and the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results : A response rate of 97.2% yielded 1503 questionnaires for analysis. The prevalence of IBS was found to be 7.7% (n = 116) with a male to female ratio of 1:1.36 (49 vs. 67). "Diarrhoea-predominant IBS" (50%, n = 58) was the predominant IBS subgroup. Symptoms of abdominal pain associated with a change in stool frequency (100%) and consistency (88.8%) were quite common. All IBS symptoms were more prevalent among women (P < 0.000). In the past one year, 65.5% (n = 76) IBS subjects had consulted a physician with a slightly higher rate of women consulters (68.6 vs. 61.2%). The main predictor for healthcare-seeking was the presence of multiple dyspeptic symptoms. Conclusions : The prevalence of IBS in the urban community was found to be similar to that in rural communities. A higher rate of consultation was found among urban IBS subjects than in the rural subjects, with sex not seen to be a discriminator to seek consultation. |
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