title: A global perspective on irritable bowel syndrome: a consensus statement of the World Gastroenterology Organisation Summit Task Force on irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common in western Europe and North America, and many aspects of its epidemiology, risk factors, and natural history have been described in these regions. Recent data suggest, however, that IBS is also common in the rest of the world and there has been some evidence to suggest some differences in demographics and presenting features between IBS in the west and as it is experienced elsewhere. The World Gastroenterology Organization, therefore, established a Task Force comprising experts on the topic from all parts of the world to examine IBS from a global perspective. IBS does, indeed, seem to be common worldwide though with some significant variations in prevalence rates between regions and countries and there may well be some potentially interesting variations in presenting symptoms and sex distribution. The global map of IBS is far from complete; community-based prevalence data is not available from many areas. Furthermore, while some general trends are evident in terms of IBS impact and demographics, international comparisons are hampered by differences in diagnostic criteria, study location and methodology; several important unanswered questions have been identified that should form the basis for future collaborative research and have the potential to shed light on this challenging disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. e.quigley@ucc.ie
authors.forename: Eamonn M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdel-Hamid
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: Shobna J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boeckxstaens
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Giorgio
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delvaux
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Drossman
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Foxx-Orenstein
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guarner
authors.forename: Kok-Ann
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gwee
authors.forename: Lucinda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A Pali S
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hungin
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kellow
authors.forename: Igor L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Khalif
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kruis
authors.forename: Greger
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olano
authors.forename: Joaquim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Moraes-Filho
authors.forename: Lawrence R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Schiller
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmulson
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simrén
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzeuton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult