Organic Bowel Diseases And Functional Bowel Disorders:Prevalence And Symptoms Characteristics

BackgroundWorldwide 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.ObjectivesThe 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. Secondly to evaluate colonoscopy and alarm symptoms contribution in the diagnostic process of both functional disorder and organic disease. And finally develop a recommendation framework of routine diagnosis for physicians in order to improve FGIDs diagnosis in the population.MethodA total of1002consecutive symptomatic patients without previous diagnosis of disease whom, after consulting in outpatient clinic were prescribed colonoscopy completed a validated questionnaire. FGID diagnosis is defined based on combination of Rome III diagnostic criteria and exclusion of organic disease.ResultThe mean age was43.76years,55%(552) of subjects were males and45%(450) females. The prevalence of overall Functional GI disorders was55.7%and that by specific FGID was as follows:IBS24.95%, functional constipation22.75%, functional diarrhoea21.05%, functional bloating28.94%, unspecified functional bowel disorder11.87%and functional abdominal pain24.75%.the overlapping syndrome among FGIDs (multiple FGIDs) is high and represents72.04%with patients having2coexisting FGID29.39%,3coexisting FGID25.04%and more than3coexisting FGID17.56%. Colonoscopic findings revealed34.63% of organic diseases among which hemorrhoids is22.60%, polyps15.56%, colorectal cancer5.78%, IBD1.38%.ConclusionFGIDs were common in this study, as do their overlapping what deserves greater care. There is influence of age, gender, psychological factors and drugs intake on FGIDs occurrence and symptoms modulations. There is a difference of significance between alarm symptoms in their contribution to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of FGIDs. One fifth of subjects have hemorrhoids while colorectal cancer represents5.78%and around10%are "unclassified patients".