title: Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in Chinese college and university students assessed using Rome III criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in college and university students of North China and certain related factors for IBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2500 students from Shandong University in North China were asked in February-March 2009 to complete questionnaires, including the Rome III questionnaire, hospital anxiety and depression scale, and IBS-quality of life questionnaire (IBS-QOL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 2126 students with complete data, the prevalence of IBS was 7.85% according to the Rome III criteria, with a female/male ratio of 1.78:1. Most students had the IBS-constipation subtype (36.5%), followed by IBS-diarrhea subtype (31.1%) and IBS-mixed subtype (23.9%). The students with IBS had a higher anxiety and depression score than those without IBS. Low exercise level and anxiety indicated a high risk for IBS. The mean score of IBS patients was 74.2 +/- 4.242 on the IBS-QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of IBS is 7.85% in Chinese college and university students according to the Rome III criteria. Low exercise level and anxiety may be the risk factors for IBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, No. 107, Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xiu-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Chang-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qiu-Jie
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yan-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
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