The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common among patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Our aim was to investigate the frequency of chronic GI symptoms in Korean patients with NIDDM.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey, using a reliable and valid questionnaire, was performed in diabetes clinics from seven hospitals of the Catholic University of Korea.


RESULTS
A total of 608 patients (249 males and 359 females, mean age 53.7+/-10.9 years) were investigated. The frequencies of weekly heartburn and acid regurgitation (esophageal symptoms) were 7.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0 to 9.2) and 4.4% (95% CI, 2.8 to 6.1), respectively. The frequency of dyspepsia was 13.2% (95% CI, 10.5 to 15.8). The frequencies of constipation and diarrhea were 15.0% (95% CI, 12.2 to 18.0) and 5.3% (95% CI, 3.5 to 7.1), respectively. Nausea and the use of manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation were more prevalent in women than in men. Constipation and fecal incontinence were more common in diabetes patients with long duration (>10 years). Fecal incontinence and using laxatives were more frequent in the complicated diabetes group. Using laxatives was more frequent in the uncontrolled diabetes group.


CONCLUSIONS
Two-thirds of diabetic patients experienced GI symptoms. The prevalence of GI symptoms was more common in patients who had diabetic complications and a long duration of diabetes.
Oh
Jung-Hwan
JH
Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choi
Myung-Gyu
MG
Kang
Moo-Il
MI
Lee
Kang-Moon
KM
Kim
Jin Il
JI
Kim
Byung-Wook
BW
Lee
Dong-Soo
DS
Kim
Sung-Soo
SS
Choi
Hwang
H
Han
Sok-Won
SW
Choi
Kyu-Yong
KY
Son
Ho-Young
HY
Chung
In-Sik
IS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology