title: Frequency of functional bowel disorders among healthy volunteers in Mexico City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequency of functional bowel disorders (FBD) in Mexico using the Rome II criteria is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Rome II Modular Questionnaire (RII-MQ) was translated into Spanish in coordination with the Rome Committee and their Latin American program. Volunteers were recruited by advertisement in Mexico City, and administered the RII-MQ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population consisted of 324 healthy volunteers, with a mean age of 35.7; 66% were female. The most prevalent disorders were heartburn 35%, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 35%, functional bloating 21%, proctalgia fugax 21%, and functional constipation 19%. Based on gender, IBS-C was 4 times more frequent in females than males (19 vs. 4.6%) and functional bloating 3 times more frequent (10 vs. 3.7%). Differences according to occupation included a higher prevalence of ulcer-like dyspepsia (p = 0.04), IBS-C (p = 0.018) and proctalgia fugax (p = 0.034) among students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to use RII-MQ to determine the prevalence of FBD in urban Mexico. The prevalence of IBS was significant and is related to a number of factors, including the stress of living in an overpopulated city. Selection bias is likely operative. A community-based study is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Liver, Pancreas and Motility Laboratory (HIPAM), Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico-UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico. maxjulio@avantel.net
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmulson
authors.forename: Orianna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ortíz
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santiago-Lomeli
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Reyes
authors.forename: María Concepción
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Ruiz
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robles-Díaz
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population