The Prevalences of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Rural Community in Korea.
- Author:
Kyo Young CHOO
1
;
Myung Gyu CHOI
;
Hwang CHOI
;
Dong Soo LEE
;
Jin Il KIM
;
Sung Soo KIM
;
Choon Sang BHANG
;
Soo Heon PARK
;
Jae Kwang KIM
;
Sok Won HAN
;
Kyu Yong CHOI
;
In Sik CHUNG
;
Kyu Won CHUNG
;
Hee Sik SUN
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Prevalence;
Functional gastrointestinal disorder;
Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD);
Functional dyspepsia;
Irritable bowel syndrome
- MeSH:
Constipation;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Dyspepsia;
Gastroesophageal Reflux;
Gastrointestinal Diseases;
Heartburn;
Humans;
Irritable Bowel Syndrome;
Korea*;
Prevalence*;
Rural Population*
- From:Korean Journal of Gastrointestinal Motility
2000;6(1):31-43
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are believed to be common in the general population, but there is a lack of data from Korea. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in a rural community in Korea by using the Bowel Symptom Questionnaire (BSQ), which was based on the multinational diagnostic Rome criteria for functional bowel disorders, as a measure of GI symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, using a reliable and valid questionnaire based on the fulfillment of the Rome criteria, was performed in a densely populated district in a Korean rural community on the residents aged 18-69 yr (mean 48 +/- 14 yr). 95.5% responded (n=420). All respondents were interviewed at their home or offices by a team of interviewers. RESULTS: Two thirds of Korean rural residents experience gastrointestinal symptoms and one fifth of them visit a clinic or hospital at least once a year. Prevalences of weekly heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic constipation were 5.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-7.4), 2.6% (95% CI, 1.1-4.2), 15.5% (95% CI, 11.9-19.0), 8.6% (95% CI, 5.8-11.3), and 24.3% (95% CI, 20.1-28.5) respectively. The prevalence of dyspepsia was 25%, taking medication usage into consideration. Ulcer-like dyspepsia (11.2%) was the most common subtype and 40% of the subjects with dyspepsia were classified into more than one subtype of dyspesia. There was an overlap between subjects with IBS and dyspepsia with 6.1% of dypeptics having IBS and 11.1% of IBS patients having dypepsia. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GERD was low in Korea compared with that of the Western contries. The prevalences of dyspepsia and IBS were similar to those of the Western countries. The most common gastrointestinal symptom in a rural community in Korea is dyspepsia.
