title: Epidemiology of Functional abdominal bloating and its impact on health related quality of life: male-female stratified propensity score analysis in a population based survey in mainland China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of Functional abdominal bloating (FAB) and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chinese people remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, stratified, multi-stage sampling methodology was used to select a representative sample of the general population from five cities in China (n = 16,078). All respondents completed the modified Rome II questionnaire; 20% were asked to complete the 36-item Short Form (SF-36). The associated factors of FAB were analyzed. The effects of FAB on HRQoL were estimated with gender stratification using propensity score techniques in 20% subsample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 643 individuals (4.00%) had FAB and it was more prevalent in males than in females (4.87% vs. 3.04%, P<0.001). For males, self-reported history of dyspepsia was most strongly associated with FAB (OR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.59, 4.72). However, the most strongly associated factor was self-reported health status for females (moderate health vs. good health: OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.96. P = 0.030; poor health vs. good health: OR = 5.71, 95% CI: 2.06, 15.09). Concerning HRQoL, FAB was found to be related to two domains: role limitation due to physical problems (P = 0.030) and bodily pain (P<0.001) in females. While, in males, there were significant differences in multiple domains between those with and without FAB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of FAB in China was lower than previous reports. Males who had ever been diagnosed with dyspepsia and females who were in a poor self-reported health status were correlated with a higher prevalence of FAB. FAB affected only physical health in females, but impaired both physical and mental health in males.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Meijing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Wenxin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shunquan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiuqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D057216:Propensity Score; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires