Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)is the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder, both in primary and secondary care. Aims: (1)To describe diagnostic tools and treatments suggested to IBS patients by Italian gastroenterologists; (2)To evaluate patients’ quality of life and psychological involvement and the relationship of these factors with symptom severity. Methods: Twenty-six gastroenterologists recorded the demographic and clinical data of 677 IBS patients. Diagnostic and treatment measures taken in the previous year and those suggested by gastroenterologists were analysed. Results: IBS with constipation was found in 43.4%, with diarrhoea in 21.6%, mixed-IBS in 35.0%. Routine blood tests, ultrasonography, colonoscopy, barium enema and CT were more frequently requested in the previous year than by the gastroenterologists (p < 0.001). Colonoscopy (11%), and ultrasonography (20.4%)were also suggested by the gastroenterologists in a non-negligible number of patients. Abdominal pain and distension, bowel dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression were more severe in females than in males. Quality of life decreased with increasing IBS-symptom severity. Conclusions: IBS diagnosis is still largely based on exclusion criteria even if gastroenterologists try to improve diagnostic appropriateness. However, therapy remains symptom-based also in the gastroenterological setting even if gastroenterologists use a wide variety of approaches, including innovative therapies such as linaclotide and psychotherapy.
IBS clinical management in Italy: The AIGO survey / Soncini M.; Stasi C.; Usai Satta P.; Milazzo G.; Bianco M.; Leandro G.; Montalbano L.M.; Muscatiello N.; Monica F.; Galeazzi F.; Bellini M.; Carrara M.; Cabras F.; Guerra V.; Camilleri S.; Gambaccini D.; Tammaro L.; D'Alba L.; Turco L.; Gasparini P.; Solinas A.; Russo G.; Pancetti A.; Salvioli B.; Anderloni A.; Bassotti G.; Lai M.A.; Antonino M.; De Bona M.; Boschetto S.; Rentini S.; Rossitti P.; Limido E.; Balzano A.. - In: DIGESTIVE AND LIVER DISEASE. - ISSN 1590-8658. - ELETTRONICO. - 51:6(2019), pp. 782-789. [10.1016/j.dld.2018.10.006]
IBS clinical management in Italy: The AIGO survey
Carrara M.;Gasparini P.;Solinas A.;Salvioli B.
2019
Abstract
Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)is the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder, both in primary and secondary care. Aims: (1)To describe diagnostic tools and treatments suggested to IBS patients by Italian gastroenterologists; (2)To evaluate patients’ quality of life and psychological involvement and the relationship of these factors with symptom severity. Methods: Twenty-six gastroenterologists recorded the demographic and clinical data of 677 IBS patients. Diagnostic and treatment measures taken in the previous year and those suggested by gastroenterologists were analysed. Results: IBS with constipation was found in 43.4%, with diarrhoea in 21.6%, mixed-IBS in 35.0%. Routine blood tests, ultrasonography, colonoscopy, barium enema and CT were more frequently requested in the previous year than by the gastroenterologists (p < 0.001). Colonoscopy (11%), and ultrasonography (20.4%)were also suggested by the gastroenterologists in a non-negligible number of patients. Abdominal pain and distension, bowel dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression were more severe in females than in males. Quality of life decreased with increasing IBS-symptom severity. Conclusions: IBS diagnosis is still largely based on exclusion criteria even if gastroenterologists try to improve diagnostic appropriateness. However, therapy remains symptom-based also in the gastroenterological setting even if gastroenterologists use a wide variety of approaches, including innovative therapies such as linaclotide and psychotherapy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
