Predictive Factors of the Persistence and Remission of Irritable Bowel Syndrome at Tertiary Care Hospital

Predictive Factors of the Persistence and Remission of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel habits in the absence of detectable structural or biochemical abnormalities. Objectives: To examine the clinical and demographic predictors of irritable bowel syndrome outcomes in a tertiary care hospital in Sindh, Pakistan Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, from December 2022-July 2023. The study included 240 patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome of all genders and ages of 18 to 60 years. Irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed via Rome IV Criteria. Patients with clinical evidence of organic or metabolic diseases that may affect the bowel transit or cause abdominal pain along with the patients who were taking the medications for irritable bowel syndrome at the time of enrollment were excluded from the study. Results: Over six months, 167 (69.6%) participants showed symptom persistence, while 73 (30.4%) achieved remission. Irritable bowel syndrome D-subtype (p=0.03) and symptom duration under three years (54.8%; p=0.04) were significantly linked to outcomes. Psychological distress, especially stress, and non-digestive symptoms like backache and fatigue predicted persistence. Conclusions: The study concluded that a shorter symptom duration of less than 3 years along with irritable bowel syndrome D as a predictor of improved remission rates. Psychological distress, particularly high stress levels, along with non-digestive symptoms such as backache and fatigue, are significant predictors of symptom persistence.