title: Prevalence and risk factors for functional bowel disorders in South China: a population based study using the Rome III criteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional bowel disorders (FBDs) such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) impact on quality of life and health care resources. It is uncertain whether patients with functional digestive symptoms have similar characteristics in different populations. This population-based study assessed the prevalence and identified risk factors for these disorders in South-East China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five communities were selected at random and invitations distributed to a representative sample (block randomization). Questionnaires were completely supervised by investigators. Demographic and medical data with FBD symptoms (Rome III criteria), psychological condition, life event stress, and quality of life were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Functional bowel disorder prevalence was 41.6% in 1999/2115 (94.5%) completed questionnaires: 9.9% functional constipation (FC), 6.8% bloating (FB), 6.5% diarrhea (FD), 5.9% IBS (IBS-D 47.1%, IBS-M 23.9%, IBS-C 12.8%, IBS-U 16.2%), and 12.6% unspecified. Similar numbers of men and women had FBDs or IBS (overall; 51.3% male vs 48.7% female, P=.796); however, there was female predominance in FC (62.1%, P<.001) and FB (58.5%, P=.038). FBDs were associated with greater anxiety, depression, life event stress, and a lower quality of life compared with those without symptoms (all, P<.0001). Logistic regression identified medical co-morbidity, anxiety/depression, and life event stress as independent risk factors for these disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional bowel disorders are as common in South China as in western populations. A similar number of men and women report FBDs and IBS. Only FC and FB are more prevalent in females. Independent risk factors associated with FBDs included physical and psychosocial stressors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.|Abdominal Center: Gastroenterology, St. Claraspital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: functional bowel disorders; irritable bowel syndrome; prevalence; risk factors