Abstract
Background and Aims: Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional biopsychosocial disorder in the west, a little is known about the prevalence of IBS in Arabic countries, especially in Saudi Arabia. The aims of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of IBS in adult Saudis. Also, to examine gender, age and marital status differences in the prevalence, and to evaluate IBS characteristics related to psychosomatic and psychological symptoms.
Methods: Basic demographic data and IBS symptoms based on the Rome H Criteria were sought using a validated self-report questionnaire.
Other section of the questionnaire consisted of questions related to fatigue, backache, headache, insomnia, inability to concentrate, anger, loss of sex drive and withdrawal from social activities.
Results: The questionnaire was used to collect data from a purposive sample of 1500 subjects aged between 20 and 59 years, and worked in different places in Riyadh city. The overall response rate was 70.73%, giving a final total of 1061 participants included 532 females (50.14%) and 529 males (49.86%). Among the participants, 121 subjects met Rome II Criteria. The prevalence of IBS was 11.40% with a significant difference between female and male subjects, (females 14.28%, males 8.51%, P < 0.05). The prevalence based on the age distribution was significantly higher among the age group of 30-39 years. The difference in IBS prevalence by marital status was not significant. The relationship between IBS and fatigue, backache, insomnia, anger and withdrawal from social activities was statistically significant (all P < 0.05), while the association with headache, inability to concentrate and loss of sex drive was not significant (all P > 0.05).