Irritable bowel syndrome in adults over 35 years in Shiraz, southern Iran:prevalence and associated factors

Farnaz Khademolhosseini, Davood Mehrabani, Marzieh Nejabat, Mahmood Beheshti, Seyed Taghi Heydari, Alireza Mirahmadizadeh, Moosa Salehi, Najaf Zare, Mehdi Saberi-Firoozi

Abstract


  • BACKGROUND: The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in the general population. The aim of this population-based study was to determine the prevalence of IBS and describe the associated factors including demographic, life style and health-seeking behaviors in Shiraz city, southern Iran.
  • METHODS: From April to September 2004, 1978 subjects aged > 35 years old completed a validated and reliable questionnaire on IBS.
  • RESULTS: The prevalence rate of IBS was 10.9%, higher in females, in 35-44 years old age group and among subjects eating fast food (14.1%) but was lower in those taking more fruits and vegetables (10.5%). The occurrence of anxiety, nightmare and restlessness was also significantly higher in subjects with IBS. It had an association with psychological distress and recurrent headaches but not with drinking tea/coffee, smoking or physical activity.
  • CONCLUSIONS: In our area, IBS was correlated with gender, age, psychological distress, recurrent headaches and consumption of fast foods that necessitate health planning programs by health policy makers.
  • KEYWORDS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Prevalence, Demography, Life Style, Health Behavior.

Keywords


Irritable Bowel Syndrome, prevalence, associated factors

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