title: [Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in Veracruz City, Mexico: a community-based survey].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is recognized as the most frequent functional digestive disorder around the world. In Latin America and Mexico there are few studies in order to demonstrate its real prevalence in general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of IBS in general population from Veracruz City Mexico, using the Rome II criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using basic information given by bureau for planning urban services from Veracruz country, a 10% random population sample was obtained. Subjects between 16-80 years old were interviewed using a questionnaire based on Rome II criteria and a visual analogous scale in order to estimate the negative effect of IBS symptoms on daily activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We interviewed 459 subjects with a median age of 31.2 +/- 13.6 years old detecting 78 subjects (16.9%) with IBS symptoms: 25 males and 53 females (gender prevalence of 11.3% and 22.1%, respectively). 28.2% of them had IBS with diarrhea, 50% had IBS with constipation and 21.8% alternating bowel movements, diarrhea and constipation. Negative effect of IBS symptoms on daily activities was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of IBS in open population was 16.9% according to Rome II criteria, being higher in those older than 35 years old. Constipation was the predominant pattern. Further studies should evaluate associated factors of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Veracruzana. Veracruz, Ver. drjvalerio@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valerio-Ureña
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vásquez-Fernández
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Pineda
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Cortázar-Benítez
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Azamar-Jácome
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Duarte-Velázquez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torres-Medina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014504:Urban Health