Relative risk of irritable bowel syndrome following acute gastroenteritis and associated risk factors.
A prospective cohort study using electronic medical records was undertaken to estimate the relative risk (RR) of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) following acute gastroenteritis (GE) in primary-care patients in The Netherlands and explore risk factors. Patients aged 18-70 years who consulted for GE symptoms from 1998 to 2009, met inclusion/exclusion criteria and had at least 1 year of follow-up data were included. Patients with non-GE consultations, matched by age, gender, consulting practice and time of visit, served as the reference group. At 1 year, 1·2% of GE patients (N = 2428) had been diagnosed with IBS compared to 0·3% of the reference group (N = 2354). GE patients had increased risk of IBS [RR 4·85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·02-11·63]. For GE patients, concomitant cramps and history of psycho-social consultations were significantly associated with increased risk. GE patients had increased risk of IBS up to 5 years post-exposure (RR 5·40, 95% CI 2·60-11·24), suggesting there may be other contributing factors.
Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention, Raleigh, NC, USA.
B K
BK
Kowalcyk
Julius Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
H M
HM
Smeets
Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
P A
PA
Succop
Julius Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
N J
NJ
De Wit
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
A H
AH
Havelaar
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult