Validation of Rome II criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders by factor analysis of symptoms in Asian patient sample.
BACKGROUND
It has been unclear as to whether the Rome II criteria could be applied to patients in the Asia region with functional gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine if symptoms of Asian patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders formed groups which corresponded to the Rome II diagnostic criteria.


METHODS
A modified English version of Talley's bowel disease questionnaire was developed in collaboration with various research teams in accordance with the Rome II criteria. This instrument was translated into the local languages of the following nine Asian regions: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. From September to December 2001, newly enrolled outpatients attending 14 GI or medical clinics in these regions were invited to complete the questionnaire. From these respondents, patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders fulfilling the '12 weeks out of 12 months' criteria were separated for further analysis. Principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to identify symptom clusters or factors. These factors were compared with the existing classification of functional GI diseases derived from the Rome II criteria.


RESULTS
Factor analysis of symptoms from 1012 functional GI patients supported the Rome II classification of the following groups of functional GI disorders: diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation, functional dyspepsia, functional abdominal pain syndrome, functional heartburn, and functional vomiting. Functional diarrhea was combined with functional anorectal disorders, and globus merged with functional dysphagia into one factor. Some of the functional dyspepsia, abdominal bloating and belching symptoms were loaded into one factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Factor analysis of symptoms from a sample of Asian patients with functional GI disorders partially supported the use of the Rome II classification.
Kwan
Ambrose Chi-Pong
AC
Princess Margaret Hospital, Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Hong Kong, China.
Bao
Tran  Ngoc
T
Chakkaphak
Suriya
S
Chang
Full-Young
FY
Ke
Mei  Yun
M
Law
Ngai Moh
NM
Leelakusolvong
Somchai
S
Luo
Jin Yan
JY
Manan
Chudahman
C
Park
Hyo Jin
HJ
Piyaniran
Wanich
W
Qureshi
Akhtar
A
Long
Ta
T
Xu
Guo Ming
GM
Xu
Liying
L
Yuen
Hon
H
D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires