title: Prevalence, bowel habit subtypes and medical care-seeking behaviour of patients with irritable bowel syndrome in Northern Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) prevalence ranges between 10 and 20% in the general population, it appears to be considerably undiagnosed with only 25-50% of patients with IBS seeking medical advice. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IBS in Northern Greece and the prevalence by symptom subtype including diarrhoea-predominant IBS, constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS) and mixed type IBS; to identify factors contributing to the development of this syndrome; to assess its effect on health-related quality of life and to evaluate the medical care-seeking behaviour of IBS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2004 and December 2007, 3112 participants were requested to fill out a questionnaire during an interview with a primary health care clinician. Data on participants' demographics, medical history, symptoms and earlier health care-seeking behaviour were also recorded. The Rome II criteria were used to establish the diagnosis of IBS. The impact of IBS on the quality of life was examined using the EuroQol with five domains (EQ-5D) measure of health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 2397 participants [704 men (29.4%), mean age 46.1+/-15.0 years] included, 373 (15.7%) reported gastrointestinal symptoms compatible with IBS of whom 136 (36.5%) suffered from diarrhoea-predominant IBS, 165 (44.2%) suffered from C-IBS and 72 (19.3%) suffered from mixed type IBS. IBS patients were more likely to be female living in an urban area compared with healthy controls (P=0.03 and 0.0001, respectively). A significant decrease in health-related quality of life (impairment in two or more of measured parameters) was noted in 246 (66%) IBS patients. Female sex, older age and housekeeping were associated with C-IBS (P=0.02, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). Female sex and IBS-M were associated with health care-seeking behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of IBS in Northern Greece is relatively high, mainly affecting female participants living in urban areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy and Motility Unit, Central Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katsinelos
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lazaraki
authors.forename: Jannis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kountouras
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paroutoglou
authors.forename: Irini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oikonomidou
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mimidis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koutras
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gelas
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zavos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pilpilidis
authors.forename: Grigoris
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chatzimavroudis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data