title: Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in caregivers of patients with chronic diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregivers are an at-risk population for psychic and physical diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, it is not known whether providing care for the chronically ill patient can be considered a risk factor for developing IBS. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of IBS according to the Rome II criteria in a group of caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted through an evaluation of caregivers of chronically ill patients. Subjects completed questionnaires including the Rome II Modular Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZCBI) (an instrument for evaluating the burden experienced by caregivers), and the irritable bowel syndrome quality of life (IBS-QoL) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six primary caregivers (mean age was 43.6 ± 13.7 years and 87% were women) were evaluated. The mean length of time providing care was 37.6 months (3-288 months). Forty-seven caregivers (49%) presented with IBS. The caregivers with IBS had higher scores in the global ZCBI score (47 ± 8 vs 28 ± 8, p = 0.001) and on the anxiety and depression scale (p = 0.001) than those that did not have IBS. A total of 72% were diagnosed with caregiver stress syndrome; 42 of them had IBS according to the Rome II questionnaire (60% vs 18%, p = 0.001, relative risk 3.28, 95% CI: 1.4-7.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregivers of chronically ill patients have a high prevalence of IBS, which is associated with depression, anxiety, and poor QoL.
authors: Digestive Physiology and Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones Medico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Remes-Troche
authors: Digestive Physiology and Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones Medico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Torres-Aguilera
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Montes-Martínez
authors: Digestive Physiology and Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones Medico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors: V A
authors: VA
authors: Jiménez-García
authors: Digestive Physiology and Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones Medico Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Roesch-Dietlen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: caregiver; chronic; chronically ill; irritable bowel syndrome; overload