Epidemiological Aspects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Europe and North America
- 1 July 2001
- journal article
- working team-report
- Published by S. Karger AG in Digestion
- Vol. 64 (3) , 200-204
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000048862
Abstract
The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in Europe and North America was analyzed from published material. The percentage of the population of Western civilisation with IBS symptoms is between 10 and 15% in most studies. The proportion of a Western population visiting a doctor for IBS symptoms is around 5%. The prevalence of IBS and the proportion of consulters do not seem to depend on age in an adult population. The female-to-male ratio of IBS in the population is close to 2. It is higher in IBS consulters in primary care and may be as high as 3 or 4 in tertiary referral centers. At least in patients from these centers, the number of physician visits and colonoscopies is considerable. Most of the consulters get a drug prescription.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Population Study on Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Mental HealthScandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2000
- Irritable bowel syndrome in general practice: prevalence, characteristics, and referralGut, 2000
- A National Survey of Practice Patterns of Gastroenterologists With Comparison to the Past Two DecadesJournal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 1999
- Impact of Irritable Bowel Syndrome on Quality of Life and Resource Use in the United States and United KingdomDigestion, 1999