BACKGROUND/AIMS: The epidemiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in developed and developing countries involves a high prevalence of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. This study examined the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in schoolchildren and adolescents in Colombia using the Rome III criteria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on Colombian children between 8 and 17 years old. The Spanish version of the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms-Rome III Version self-report form was answered by students from two schools. The prevalence of FGID was calculated and correlation tests were conducted among the variables analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 864 children with a mean age of 12.5±2.5 years were analyzed; 50.7% were female. Two hundred and fifty-nine children (30%) had at least one FGID, and of these, 163 were female (62.9%). Sixty-nine children had two or more FGIDs (8%). Functional constipation was the most prevalent disorder (13.2%), followed in order by abdominal migraine (8.3%), irritable bowel syndrome (6.9%), and aerophagia (3.1%). A significantly higher prevalence of FGID was observed in females (p=0.000). No significant difference was observed between the age groups or type of school they attended. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of FGID in the sample was 30%, with functional constipation being the most common. These results are similar to those of other prevalence studies reported elsewhere.
Adolescent ; Child ; Colombia ; Constipation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Developing Countries ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Migraine Disorders ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There has been major progress in our understanding of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and novel treatment classes have emerged. The Rome IV guidelines were published in 2016 and together with the growing body of Asian data on IBS, we felt it is timely to update the Asian IBS Consensus. METHODS: Key opinion leaders from Asian countries were organized into 4 teams to review 4 themes: symptoms and epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and investigations, and lifestyle modifications and treatments. The consensus development process was carried out by using a modified Delphi method. RESULTS: Thirty-seven statements were developed. Asian data substantiate the current global viewpoint that IBS is a disorder of gut-brain interaction. Socio-cultural and environmental factors in Asia appear to influence the greater overlap between IBS and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. New classes of treatments comprising low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosacharides, and polyols diet, probiotics, non-absorbable antibiotics, and secretagogues have good evidence base for their efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Our consensus is that all patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders should be evaluated comprehensively with a view to holistic management. Physicians should be encouraged to take a positive attitude to the treatment outcomes for IBS patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Consensus ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Diet ; Epidemiology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestines ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Life Style ; Methods ; Probiotics

Objective: Regurgitation, infantile colic, and functional constipation are common gastrointestinal symptoms in childhood, the aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and distribution of these symptoms in China. Methods: A screening program in infants aged 0 to 3 years selected through stratified cluster random sampling was carried out in 7 cities in China. Questionnaires were filled, and then diagnosis were made according to Rome Ⅳ criteria. Areas, (urban-rural), age and gender distribution of prevalence of childhood common gastrointestinal symptoms were analyzed. Results: Totally, 20 932 effective questionnaires were returned. The total number of infants aged 0 to 1 years was 10 193. Regurgitation was diagnosed in 1 960 infants, with the prevalence of 19.2%, among infants aged 0 to 3 months that had highest prevalence (29.8%). The prevalence decreased with age, and differences among different age groups showed significant. For infantile colic, 4 470 infants aged 0 to 5 months were analyzed and the prevalence of infantile colic was 7.3%. The prevalence of infantile colic was the highest in infants aged 1 to 2 months (10.0%). Age specific difference was significant. Of all the infants, functional constipation was diagnosed in 1 755 infants with the prevalence of 8.4%, and the lowest prevalence was found in infants aged 0 to 3 months (6.2%), and the highest prevalence was in infants aged 30 to 36 months (10.0%). The differences in different age group were significant. Conclusion: Symptoms of regurgitation, infantile colic, and functional constipation are common in infants in China, with age specific difference in prevalence of the symptoms.
Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Cities ; Colic/epidemiology* ; Constipation/epidemiology* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Population Surveillance ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The correlation between chronic constipation and colorectal neoplasms has been arousing wide interest. There have been a number of domestic and international epidemiological and clinical researches focusing on this issue. Based on these researches, the correlation between constipation and colorectal neoplasms was studied from three aspects: constipation and colorectal polyps; constipation and colorectal cancer; melanosis coli (MC), laxatives and colorectal neoplasms. We find that constipation can significantly increase the incidence of colorectal polyps and constipation does not significantly increase the incidence of colorectal cancer but is one of the risk factors for colorectal cancer. In addition, MC, laxatives and the incidence of colorectal polyps are also closely correlated. Given the fact that colorectal polyps are precancerous lesions, patients with long-term constipation should take less anthraquinone laxatives, and those with colorectal polyps should be followed up periodically.
Anthraquinones ; adverse effects ; Colonic Diseases ; complications ; Colonic Polyps ; epidemiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Constipation ; complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laxatives ; adverse effects ; Melanosis ; complications ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have demonstrated that sleep problems are associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs): irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, etc, but the relationship between excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and FGIDs has not been systematically studied in the general population. This study aims to explore the relationship between EDS and specific types of FGIDs and the effect of the number of FGIDs on EDS. METHODS: A sample of 3600 individuals (aged 18–80 years) was selected from 5 regions in China using a randomized, stratified, multi-stage sampling method. EDS was measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, while gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other FGIDs were assessed by Reflux Disease Questionnaire and the Rome II diagnostic criteria, respectively. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 2906 individuals (response rate: 80.72%), and 644 individuals (22.16%) had EDS. EDS was significantly associated with ulcer-like dyspepsia (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.08–5.79), diarrhea-predominant IBS (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.09–3.66), alternating IBS (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.30–4.13), functional constipation (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.20–2.35), and GERD (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.08–2.72). Risk of EDS increased along with the increasing numbers of FGIDs: with 1 FGID (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.37–2.15); with 2 FGIDs (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.63–3.62); and with 3 or more FGIDs (OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.37–7.78). CONCLUSIONS: FGIDs, such as ulcer-like dyspepsia, diarrhea-predominant IBS, alternating IBS, functional constipation, and GERD, were significantly associated with EDS. Those who suffered from more kinds of FGIDs were more susceptible to EDS.
China* ; Constipation ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Dyspepsia ; Epidemiology ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Methods

This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) among perimenopausal women in Wuhan. A cross-sectional survey was performed on 1067 women aged 40-65 years sampled in Wuhan urban area from April to October 2014. Information about demographic characteristics, menstruation, parity and UI symptoms was collected using a questionnaire. The data were evaluated by Chi-square test and multiple Logistic regression analysis. The prevalence rate of UI was 37.2%, with stress UI (32.2%) being more prevalent than urgency UI (21.6%) and mixed UI (16.6%). 31.2% women with UI stated that UI had negative impact on their life. Risk factors for UI included menstrual disorder, menopause, overweight, perineal laceration, atrophic vaginitis, constipation and pelvic organ prolapse. Appropriate investigation apropos the factors associated with UI should be performed to diminish its impact on women's life.
Adult ; Aged ; Atrophic Vaginitis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Constipation ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lacerations ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Menstrual Cycle ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Perimenopause ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Incontinence ; epidemiology ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bloating is common bothersome symptoms and most studies conducted in the Western countries found that bloating was frequently associated with lower gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms but many patients complaint bloating as upper GI symptoms in the clinical setting. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of bloating, and to identify symptom grouping and finally document the impact of bloating in the diagnosis of functional GI disorders. METHODS: Participants in a comprehensive health-screening cohort were enrolled. They were asked about demographic, medical, and social history and upper and lower GI symptoms by using a validated questionnaire. Factor analysis with principal component analysis method with varimax rotation was used. RESULTS: Among the total of 1050 subjects (mean age, 44.6 ± 10.2 years; females, 46.4%), significant bloating symptoms were found in 282 (26.9%); the prevalence of functional bloating was 6.9%. Factor analysis revealed a 5-component structure with upper GI symptoms, constipation, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation-predominant IBS, and fecal incontinence. Abdominal bloating loaded on both the upper GI symptoms (0.51 of loadings) and constipation (0.40). On logistic regression analysis, bloating was more predictable for IBS (OR, 7.5; P < 0.001) than functional dyspepsia (FD; OR, 3.7; P = 0.002). Bloating was more frequently combined with IBS according to their severity, but this association was not detected in patients with FD. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal bloating is common symptom in about a quarter of patients and appears as upper as well as lower GI symptoms. However, abdominal bloating is more predictable for IBS, especially constipation-predominant IBS, than FD.
Cohort Studies ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Dyspepsia ; Epidemiology ; Fecal Incontinence ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Prevalence ; Principal Component Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Although nerve-sparing radical surgery (NSRS) is an emerging technique for reducing surgery-related dysfunctions, its efficacy is controversial in patients with cervical cancer. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to compare clinical outcomes, and urinary, anorectal, and sexual dysfunctions between conventional radical surgery (CRS) and NSRS. METHODS: After searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, two randomized controlled trials, seven prospective and eleven retrospective cohort studies were included with 2,253 patients from January 2000 to February 2014. We performed crude analyses and then conducted subgroup analyses according to study design, quality of study, surgical approach, radicality, and adjustment for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Crude analyses showed decreases in blood loss, hospital stay, frequency of intraoperative complications, length of the resected vagina, duration of postoperative catheterization (DPC), urinary frequency, and abnormal sensation in NSRS, whereas there were no significant differences in other clinical parameters and dysfunctions between CRS and NSRS. In subgroup analyses, operative time was longer (standardized difference in means, 0.948; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.642 to 1.253), while intraoperative complications were less common (odds ratio, 0.147; 95% CI, 0.035 to 0.621) in NSRS. Furthermore, subgroup analyses showed that DPC was shorter, urinary incontinence or frequency, and constipation were less frequent in NSRS without adverse effects on survival and sexual functions. CONCLUSION: NSRS may not affect prognosis and sexual dysfunctions in patients with cervical cancer, whereas it may decrease intraoperative complications, and urinary and anorectal dysfunctions despite long operative time and short length of the resected vagina when compared with CRS.
Constipation/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy/adverse effects/*methods ; Intraoperative Complications/epidemiology ; *Organ Sparing Treatments/adverse effects/methods ; Pelvis/*innervation/surgery ; Rectum/*innervation/surgery ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology/etiology ; Urinary Bladder/*innervation/surgery ; Urinary Retention/epidemiology/etiology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiology/*surgery ; Uterus/innervation/surgery ; Vagina/innervation/surgery

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), represented by functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are a group of disorders that include variable combinations of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. FGIDs account for a significant percentage of patients seen in primary care settings with abdominal symptoms. Although the definition of FGIDs can easily affect the prevalence, the prevalences of dyspepsia/FD and IBS diagnosed by the Rome III criteria in the general population are 5.3-20.4% and 1.1-29.2%, respectively. Recent reports of FD and IBS defined by the Rome III criteria indicated a female predominance. Regarding the subtype prevalence of FD, postprandial distress syndrome was more prevalent than epigastric pain syndrome (5.6-13.9% vs 0.9-9.5%). The subtype prevalence of IBS is characterized by male predominance for IBS with diarrhea and female predominance for IBS with constipation. Factors affecting the development of FGIDs such as epidemiological factors including genetic and environmental factors, are important. Gene polymorphisms are involved in the development of FGIDs. The prevalence differs among races and geographic areas. Foods may affect the development of FGIDs, but the causal relationships between food and FGIDs are not conclusive. The symptoms often regress and appear in the course of these entities. Building a favorable patient-doctor relationship is effective for controlling symptoms of FGIDs. Physicians should explain that FGIDs are highly prevalent conditions, impair the patients' quality of life even without evident underlying organic causes and are not life-threatening conditions to ensure patients' understanding.
Constipation ; Continental Population Groups ; Diarrhea ; Dyspepsia ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Japan* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; Quality of Life

Chronic constipation is a very common clinical problem with its prevalence of up to 14% in the general population. It is not a life-threatening disease, but since patient's satisfaction to the treatment is known to be as low as 50%, chronic constipation still remains a clinically challenging problem. Fortunately, many new treatments have been introduced or are to be introduced in the near future. This article will review the basic concepts and the results of recent studies on the new treatments for chronic constipation.
Chloride Channel Agonists/therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Constipation/*drug therapy/epidemiology ; Humans ; Laxatives/*therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use ; Prevalence ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists/therapeutic use