Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Functional Disorders: Prevalence and Symptoms Characteristics in Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic

Background: Worldwide digestive diseases are common in population. Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) consist of a collection of chronic or recurrent symptoms attributed to the gastrointestinal tract that can range from esophagus to rectum and cannot be explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. FGIDs are defined essentially by symptoms association and almost few limited tests are required to provide their diagnosis. Objectives: The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of FGIDs (Functional Abdominal Pain and Functional Bowel Disorders) and to investigate the possible associations between age, sex, psychological factors, drugs intake and FGIDs. Method: Through a cross sectional study, a total of 1002 symptomatic patients without previous diagnosis of disease in who after consulting in outpatient clinic were prescribed colonoscopy completed a validated questionnaire. FGIDs were diagnosed according to Rome III diagnostic criteria. Results: The mean age was 43.72 years, 55% (552) of subjects were males and 45% (450) females. The prevalence of overall Functional GI disorders was 55.7% and that by specific FGID was as follows: IBS 24.95%, functional constipation 22.75 %, functional diarrhoea 21.05 %, functional bloating 28.94%, unspecified functional bowel disorder 11.87% and functional abdominal pain 24.75%. Around 10% of subjects are “unclassified patients”. The overlapping syndrome among FGIDs (multiple FGIDs) is high and represents 72.04% with patients having 2 coexisting FGID 29.39%, 3 coexisting FGID 25.04% and more than 3 coexisting FGID 17.56%. Subjects having history of psychological event and drugs intake represent 51.5% and 16.37% respectively. Conclusion: FGIDs were common in this study, as do their overlapping what deserve greater attention. There is influence of age, gender, psychological factors and drugs intake on FGIDs occurrence and symptoms modulations.