title: Correlation between asthma and irritable bowel syndrome in a general population in Iran in 2003.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Associations have been reported between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the inter-relations between these conditions in a general population sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomly selected community sample of 5492 adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  All of the subjects were invited for a medical interview. Those subjects suspected to have either asthma and/or IBS underwent spirometry with post-bronchodilator test if indicated. The labeling of subjects as having IBS was based on Rome II criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4762 subjects agreed to take part (86.7% response). Prevalence rates for IBS, and currently active asthma were 7.1% and 3.8%, respectively. Logistic regression showed independent associations between IBS and most asthma symptom categories. There was no significant independent association between IBS and chronic bronchitis. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) for IBS and current asthma was 1.79 (1.06-3.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations indicate the necessity of further community-based studies to elucidate the possible common pathogenic mechanisms involved in two disease entities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Unit, Isfahan Medical School, P.O. Box 81655/755, Isfahan, Iran. amra@med.mui.ac.ir
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amra
authors.forename: Mohamad K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hoseini-Asl
authors.forename: Ali-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golshan
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mohamad-Zadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged