title: The effect of irritable bowel syndrome on health-related quality of life and health care expenditures.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent condition with a large health economic burden of illness marked by impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL), diminished work productivity, and high expenditures. Clinicians should routinely screen for diminished HRQOL by performing a balanced biopsychosocial history rather than focusing just on bowel symptoms. HRQOL decrements should be acknowledged and addressed when making treatment decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Building 115, Room 215, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Brennan M R
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Spiegel
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires