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Irritable bowel syndrome subtypes according to bowel habit: revisiting the alternating subtype
11 auth. F. Mearin, A. Balboa, X. Badia, E. Baró, E. Caldwell, M. Cucala, ... M. Díaz‐Rubio, A. Fueyo, J. Ponce, M. Roset, N. Talley
Background Disturbed bowel habit, diarrhoea or constipation is a key manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In some patients, diarrhoea and constipation alternate, giving rise to the so-called alternating subtype. Aims To assess IBS subtyp…
Background Disturbed bowel habit, diarrhoea or constipation is a key manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In some patients, diarrhoea and constipation alternate, giving rise to the so-called alternating subtype. Aims To assess IBS subtype breakdown (constipation (C-IBS), diarrhoea (D-IBS) or alternating (A-IBS)) according to the Rome II criteria and patients’ self-assessment, the predominance in the alternating subtype (i.e. constipation, diarrhoea or neither), and the medical and personal impact, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), of the different IBS subtypes. Subjects and methods Two thousand individuals selected randomly to represent the general population were classified as potential IBS subjects (n = 281) or as non-potential IBS subjects (n = 1719) according to a validated questionnaire. Bowel habit classification was determined using the Rome II IBS supportive symptoms. Results Among 201 subjects meeting the Rome I criteria, 15% presented with D-IBS, 44% presented with C-IBS, 19% presented with A-IBS, and 22% presented with normal bowel habit. Among the 63 subjects meeting the Rome II criteria, 23% presented with A-IBS. According to the subjects’ self-assessment, of those meeting the Rome I criteria, 16% considered themselves to have D-IBS, 66% to have C-IBS and 18% to have A-IBS. In subjects meeting the Rome II criteria, 24% considered themselves to have A-IBS. Among those classified with A-IBS by the Rome II criteria, most considered themselves to be constipated. Regardless of the subtype self-classification, most subjects reported a normal frequency of bowel movements. Clinical manifestations in A-IBS were very similar to those of C-IBS but with the added presence of defecatory urgency. Abdominal discomfort/pain and frequency of visits to physicians were greater in the A-IBS subtype than in the other two IBS subtypes. HRQoL was affected similarly in all IBS subtypes. Conclusions Approximately one-quarter of subjects with IBS belong to the A-IBS subtype by the Rome II criteria, although the majority consider themselves to be constipated; indeed, clinical manifestations are more akin to the C-IBS subtype than to the D-IBS subtype. Abdominal discomfort/pain and frequency of visits to physicians are greater in the A-IBS subtype than in the other two IBS subtypes, while HRQoL is impaired similarly.
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7 2003