Correlation between asthma and irritable bowel syndrome in a general population in Iran in 2003.
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.
Amra
Babak
B
Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Unit, Isfahan Medical School, P.O. Box 81655/755, Isfahan, Iran. amra@med.mui.ac.ir
Hoseini-Asl
Mohamad K
MK
Rahmani
Ali-Reza
AR
Golshan
Mohamad
M
Mohamad-Zadeh
Zahra
Z
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