Comparison Of The Effects Of Different Medical Therapies To Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome And Related Research On Quality Of Life

Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of different medical therapies to patients with irritable bowel syndrome and related research on quality of life, to discuss the pathogenesis of IBS according to Chinese medicine theory, and to clarify the cognition of traditional Chinese medicine about "correlation between heart and stomach".Methods: (1) 61 eligible subjects were recruited in the study and have been divided into 3 groups (A, B, and C) randomly. Of the 61 eligible IBS patients, 23 were be treated by Shunji formula, 20 subjects treated by Tongxieyaofang appended xuanhu, and 18 IBS individuals taken venlafaxine;(2) Assess the main symptoms of IBS patients by our own instrument and related quality of life by IBS-QOL scale.Results: Symptom relief was achieved by each treatment in groups A, B and C respectively. The effect of Shunji formula is best, but that of Tongxieyaofang plus xuanhu is worst. The total symptom improvement rate was 100%, 80% and 100% respectively. Compared with group B, the total symptom improvement rate in groups A and C had significant improvement (P<0.05 respectively). Patients in group A noted more effective of abdominal fullness amelioration than that in group C and that had statistical significance (P<0.05). Meanwhile, all treatments can improve the quality of life of IBS patients respectively. The Shunji formula is the best one, but the Tongxieyaofang appended xuanhu is the worst one. Compared with groups A and C, QOL in IBS patients had a striking improvement but had no statistical significance. The Chinese medicine IBS instrument scores are more highly correlated with Body Image, Food Avoidance and Social Reaction (IBS-QOL) and show weaker associations with Dysphoria, Interference with Activity, Health Worry, Sexual and Relationships (IBS-QOL).Conclusion: In general, the Shunji formula is the best formula for IBS patients. It can relieve the clinical symptoms of IBS patients and also can improve the QOL of them. "Correlation between heart and stomach" is a reliable and valid treatment method of Chinese medicine to assess the quality of life in Chinese patients suffering from IBS and will be prudent for further clinical trials or for related research projects in China.