Irritable bowel syndrome: Prevalence and associated factors in a faculty of medicine in Southeast of Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases that reduce people's quality of life and work efficiency. Studies on the prevalence of IBS in Turkey are scarce. This study aims to determine IBS prevalence and related factors among medical students in Gaziantep. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at February 2021. Data were collected from students of Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine via online questionnaire. IBS symptoms were evaluated by using the Rome IV diagnostic criteria. Results: A total of 427 (171 preclinical, 256 clinical) students were examined. The average age of the participants was 22.07 ±2.55 years and 58.1% of them were women. Sixty-nine (16.2%) students had symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of IBS. The IBS prevalence was 16.9% (n=42) among the female students and 15.1% (n=27) among the male students. The prevalence in clinical classes was 19.5% and was significantly higher than preclinical classes (11.1% p=0.021). There was a significant difference between IBS and positive family history OR: 2.57 (95% CI: 1.39-4.75), food intolerance OR: 4.14 (95% CI: 2.36-7.27), frequent sleep problems OR: 2.16 (95% CI: 1.24-3.75), not exercising regularly OR: 1.71 (95% CI: 1.01-2.91). There was not a statistically significant relationship between IBS and income, body mass index, smoking and emotional stress. Conclusion: The general prevalence was 16.2%, and it was 19.5% in clinical classes. The factors of having IBS in family history, food intolerance, sleep problems and not exercising regularly can be associated with the prevalence of IBS.

Keywords

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• prevalence
• medical students

İrritabl barsak sendromu: Türkiye’nin güneyinde bir tıp fakültesinde prevalans ve ilişkili faktörler

Abstract

Amaç: İrritabl barsak sendromu (İBS) kişilerin yaşam kalitesini ve çalışma verimini azaltan dünya çapında en sık görülen gastrointestinal hastalıklardan birisidir. Türkiye'de İBS prevalansı ile ilgili sınırlı sayıda çalışma vardır. Bu çalışma Tıp Fakültesi öğrencilerinde IBS prevalansını ve ilişkili faktörleri belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Kesitsel çalışma 2021 Şubat ayında gerçekleştirildi. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi öğrencilerinden online anket aracılığıyla veriler toplandı. IBS semptomları, Roma IV tanı kriterleri kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Toplam 427 (171 preklinik, 256 klinik) öğrenci analiz edildi. Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 22,07 ±2,55 yıl, %58,1’i kadındı. İBS prevalansı %16,2 (Kız öğrenciler için %16,9 (n=42), erkek öğrenciler için %15,1 (n=27) p=0,608) olarak bulundu. Klinik sınıflarda prevalans %19,5 (n=50) olup preklinik sınıflara göre (%11,1 n=19) anlamlı olarak yüksekti (p=0,021). Ailede İBS öyküsü olması OR:2,57 (%95 CI:1,39-4,75), gıda intoleransı OR:4,14 (%95 CI:2,36-7,27), sık uyku problemleri olması OR:2,16 (%95 CI:1,24-3,75), düzenli egzersiz yapmama OR:1,71 (%95CI: 1,01-2,91) ile İBS arasında anlamlı ilişki bulundu. Beden kitle indexi, sigara, gelir durumu, geçmişte büyük üzüntü verici olay yaşama ile İBS arasında anlamlı ilişki bulunmadı (p>0,05). Sonuç: Genel prevalans %16,2 olup klinik sınıflarda %19,5 bulunmuştur. Ailede İBS öyküsü, gıda intoleransı, uyku problemleri ve düzenli egzersiz yapmama İBS prevalansı ile ilişkilidir.

Keywords

• İrritabl barsak sendromu
• prevalans
• tıp öğrencileri

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