rome and Constipation

Functional constipation is a common childhood problem, with a prevalence of approximately 3% worldwide. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 and lactulose in the treatment of pediatric functional constipation.. A total of 100 subjects with functional constipation were enrolled and centrally randomized to receive PEG 3350 (0.7-1.5 mg/kg/day) or lactulose (0.7-2.0 g/kg/day).. There was a significant increase in median (min, max) stool frequency within 1 week in the PEG 3350 group as compared to the lactulose group (1 [0, 3] to 8 [3, 39] vs. 1 [0, 3] to 7 [1, 17]) (p-value < 0.01). The trend was maintained at week 2, week 3 (p-value < 0.01), and week 4 (p-value = 0.05) with the PEG 3350 group reporting higher weekly median stool frequency than the lactulose group. The PEG group reported significant reduction in painful bowel movements from 68.8% subjects at baseline to 43.8% at the end of first week, whereas the lactulose group reported an increase from 48.9% to 73.3% (p-value = 0.05). Other parameters of constipation, i.e. straining, large diameter stool, and large fecal mass as reported subjectively by parents, significantly decreased from baseline to the end of the study in the PEG 3350 arm compared to those in the lactulose arm. At the end of week 4, there was a statistically significant reduction in all the ROME IV-defined criteria between the two groups.. This study proved that the PEG 3350 treatment group had early symptom relief and significant improvement compared to the lactulose group in pediatric functional constipation.. Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI/2018/01/011061).

Topics: Child; Constipation; Humans; Lactulose; Polyethylene Glycols; Rome; Treatment Outcome

There is a growing interest for the use of probiotics for chronic constipation. A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed a positive effect of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) on bowel movement frequency in infants with chronic constipation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of L. reuteri in adult patients with functional constipation.. A double-blind, placebo RCT was conducted in 40 adults (18M/22F, 35+/-15 years) affected by functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a supplementation of L. reuteri (DSM 17938), or matching placebo for 4 weeks. The increase of bowel movements/week was the primary outcome, while the improvement of stool consistency was the secondary outcome.. At week 4, the mean increase in bowel movements/week was 2.6 (SD +/-1.14, 95% CI:1.6-3.6) in the L. reuteri group and 1.0 (SD+/-1. 95% CI:0.12-1.88) in the placebo group (p=0.046). At the end of the treatment, the mean bowel movements/week was 5.28+/-1.93 in the L. reuteri group and 3.89+/-1.79 in the placebo group. There was a not significant difference in the stool consistency between the two groups.. L. reuteri is more effective than the placebo in improving bowel movement frequency in adult patients with functional constipation as previously demonstrated in children, even if it seems to have no effect on stool consistency.

Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Constipation; Defecation; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Intestines; Limosilactobacillus reuteri; Male; Middle Aged; Probiotics; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function; Rome; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Effective treatments for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) are lacking.. To assess the efficacy and safety of lubiprostone in IBS-C.. A combined analysis was performed among 1171 patients with a Rome II diagnosis of IBS-C in two phase-3 randomized trials of lubiprostone 8 mcg vs. placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. Using a balanced seven-point Likert scale ranging from significantly relieved (+3), to significantly worse (-3), patients responded on their electronic diary to the question: 'How would you rate your relief of IBS symptoms over the past week compared to how you felt before you entered the study?'. The primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage of overall responders.. Using an intent-to-treat analysis with last observation carried forward, a significantly higher percentage of lubiprostone-treated patients were considered overall responders compared with those treated with placebo (17.9% vs. 10.1%, P=0.001). Patients treated with lubiprostone reported a similar incidence of adverse events to those treated with placebo.. The percentage of overall responders based on patient-rated assessments of IBS-C symptoms was significantly improved in patients treated with lubiprostone 8 mcg twice daily compared to those treated with placebo. Lubiprostone was well tolerated with a favourable safety profile.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alprostadil; Constipation; Defecation; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrointestinal Agents; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Lubiprostone; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Rome; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

There are minimal epidemiological data comparing the burden of disorders of gut brain interaction (DGBI) in the UK with other countries. We compared the prevalence of DGBI in the UK with other countries that participated in the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study (RFGES) online.. Participants from 26 countries completed the RFGES survey online including the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire and an in-depth supplemental questionnaire with questions about dietary habits. UK sociodemographic and prevalence data were compared with the other 25 countries pooled together.. The proportion of participants with at least one DGBI was lower in UK participants compared with in the other 25 countries (37.6% 95% CI 35.5%-39.7% vs. 41.2%; 95% CI 40.8%-41.6%, p = 0.001). The UK prevalence of 14 of 22 Rome IV DGBI, including irritable bowel syndrome (4.3%) and functional dyspepsia (6.8%), was similar to the other countries. Fecal incontinence, opioid-induced constipation, chronic nausea and vomiting, and cannabinoid hyperemesis (p < 0.05) were more prevalent in the UK. Cyclic vomiting, functional constipation, unspecified functional bowel disorder, and proctalgia fugax (p < 0.05) were more prevalent in the other 25 countries. Diet in the UK population consisted of higher consumption of meat and milk (p < 0.001), and lower consumption of rice, fruit, eggs, tofu, pasta, vegetables/legumes, and fish (p < 0.001).. The prevalence and burden of DGBI is consistently high in the UK and in the rest of the world. Opioid prescribing, cultural, dietary, and lifestyle factors may contribute to differences in the prevalence of some DGBI between the UK and other countries.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Brain; Constipation; Humans; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prevalence; Rome; Vomiting

The Rome IV criteria have been established as an international standard for diagnosing disorders of gut-brain interaction. In this study, we aimed to examine the upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic findings and symptoms of subjects with functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of individuals undergoing a medical check-up.. A total of 13,729 subjects underwent a medical check-up at Osaka City University-affiliated clinic, MedCity21, between April 2018 and March 2019. Among the 5,840 subjects who underwent screening upper GI endoscopy and completed a questionnaire based on the Rome IV criteria, 5,402 subjects were consecutively enrolled after excluding subjects with a large amount of gastric residue (n = 6), those who had previously undergone partial or total gastrectomy (n = 40), or those with daily use of low-dose aspirin (n = 82), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 63), or acid secretion inhibitors (n = 308).. Robust Poisson regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, Helicobacter pylori infection status, alcohol intake, and smoking habits showed a significant association between FC and corpus erosion (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-5.67; p < 0.01) and red streaks (aPR, 3.83; 95% CI, 2.53-5.79; p < 0.01), whereas IBS was significantly associated with erosive gastritis (aPR, 8.46; 95% CI, 4.89-14.67; p < 0.01) and duodenitis (aPR, 7.28; 95% CI, 3.64-14.59; p < 0.01). Red streaks tended to be associated with IBS (aPR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.00-3.83; p = 0.05). Subjects with IBS were the most to complain of both upper and lower GI symptoms and psychological symptoms, followed by those with FC and controls. IBS subjects with erosive gastritis or duodenitis had significantly more complaints of stomachache and feeling stressed than those without erosive gastritis or duodenitis (54.5% vs. 18.8%; p = 0.03 and 66.7% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.01).. Subjects with FC and IBS had a variety of upper GI and psychological symptoms. In the upper GI endoscopic findings, corpus erosion and red streaks were associated with FC, and erosive gastritis, duodenitis, and possibly red streaks were associated with IBS.

Topics: Constipation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Duodenitis; Gastritis; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Japan; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

Bloating is a common symptom in the general population and among disorders of gut-brain interaction, although its prevalence has not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of bloating as a symptom in the worldwide population and to identify factors associated with this symptom in the general population.. Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study internet survey data were analyzed. After excluding respondents with potential organic causes of bowel symptoms, the current analysis included 51,425 individuals in 26 countries. Data included diet, medical history, quality of life, and Rome IV diagnostic questions. Presence of bloating was defined as experiencing bloating at least once per week for the last 3 months. Descriptive statistics estimated prevalence by country, region, and disorder of gut-brain interaction diagnosis. Logistic regression evaluated predictors of bloating.. Nearly 18% of the global study population reported bloating (ranging from 11% in East Asia to 20% in Latin America). Prevalence decreased with age and women were approximately twice as likely as men to report bloating. More than one-half of respondents who reported weekly epigastric pain (71.39%), nausea (59.7%), or abdominal pain (61.69%) also reported bloating at least once per week. In logistic regression, the strongest associations were with abdominal pain (odds ratio, 2.90) and epigastric pain (odds ratio, 2.07).. Bloating is common throughout the world. Nearly 18% of the general population experience bloating at least once per week. Reported bloating prevalence is lower in older age groups, most common in women, and strongly associated with abdominal pain.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Aged; Constipation; Female; Flatulence; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Male; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and opioid-induced constipation (OIC) are disorders that negatively affect quality of life. We sought to assess the prevalence, symptom severity, and medication use among people with Rome IV CIC, OIC, and opioid-exacerbated constipation (OEC) using a nationally representative data set with nearly 89,000 people in the United States.. From May 3, 2020, to June 24, 2020, we recruited a representative sample of people in the United States ≥ 18 years to complete an online national health survey. The survey guided participants through the Rome IV CIC and OIC questionnaires, Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System gastrointestinal scales (percentile 0-100; higher = more severe), and medication questions. Individuals with OEC were identified by asking those with OIC whether they experienced constipation before starting an opioid and whether their symptoms worsened afterward.. Among the 88,607 participants, 5,334 (6.0%) had Rome IV CIC, and 1,548 (1.7%) and 335 (0.4%) had Rome IV OIC and OEC, respectively. When compared with people with CIC (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System score, 53.9 ± 26.5; reference), those with OIC (62.7 ± 28.0; adjusted P < 0.001) and OEC (61.1 ± 25.8, adjusted P = 0.048) had more severe constipation symptoms. People with OIC (odds ratio 2.72, 95% confidence interval 2.04-3.62) and OEC (odds ratio 3.52, 95% confidence interval 2.22-5.59) were also more likely to be taking a prescription medication for their constipation vs those with CIC.. In this nationwide US survey, we found that Rome IV CIC is common (6.0%) while Rome IV OIC (1.7%) and OEC (0.4%) are less prevalent. Individuals with OIC and OEC have a higher burden of illness with respect to symptom severity and prescription constipation medication use.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Constipation; Cost of Illness; Humans; Opioid-Induced Constipation; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Rome; United States

Recent concepts suggest that the neuropathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) may in part originate from the enteric nervous system. We evaluated the frequency of functional gastrointestinal disorders in PD patients using Rome IV criteria and correlated the clinical severity of PD.. PD patients and matched controls were recruited between January 2020 and December 2021. Rome IV criteria were used to diagnose constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Severity of PD motor symptoms was evaluated using UPDRS part III scores and non-motor symptoms using Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS).. A total of 99 PD patients and 64 controls were enrolled. The prevalence of constipation (65.7% vs. 34.3%, P < 0.001) and IBS (18.1% vs 5%, P = 0.02) were significantly higher in PD patients than controls. The prevalence of IBS was higher in early-stage PD than advanced-stage PD (14.43% vs. 8.25%, P = 0.02), whereas constipation was more common in advanced stages (71.43% vs. 18.56%, P < 0.001). PD patients with IBS had higher NMSS total scores (P < 0.01) than those without IBS. The severity of IBS correlated with NMSS scores (r = 0.71, P < 0.001), especially subscores in domain 3 assessing mood disorders (r = 0.83, P < 0.001), but not UPDRS part III scores (r = 0.06, P = 0.45). The severity of constipation correlated with the UPDRS part III scores (r = 0.59, P < 0.001) but not the domain 3 mood subscores (r = 0.15, P = 0.07).. The prevalence of IBS and constipation was higher in PD patients than controls and phenotypic correlation supported the occurrence of IBS with higher non-motor symptom burden, especially mood symptoms, in PD patients.

Topics: Constipation; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Parkinson Disease; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

Little is known about the natural history of functional bowel disorders using Rome IV criteria. We examined these issues in a longitudinal follow-up study.. We collected complete demographic, gastrointestinal symptom, and psychological comorbidity data at baseline from 1372 adults who met Rome IV criteria for one of the five functional bowel disorders. At 12 months, we collected data regarding gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological comorbidity, consultation behavior, and treatment commenced. We examined prognosis and stability of all five functional bowel disorders.. At baseline, 811 (59.1%) individuals met Rome IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 76 (5.5%) functional constipation (FC), 199 (14.5%) functional diarrhea (FDr), 130 (9.5%) functional abdominal bloating or distension (FABD), and 156 (11.4%) unspecified functional bowel disorder (UFBD). In total, 782 (57.0%) were successfully followed up. Individuals with IBS at baseline were significantly more likely to report symptoms compatible with anxiety, depression, or somatoform-type behavior (p < 0.001 for all analyses) at baseline and follow-up compared with those with the other four functional bowel disorders. IBS was the most stable functional bowel disorder; 319 (70.6%) of 452 participants still met criteria for IBS at 12 months, compared with 14 (34.1%) of 41, 43 (35.5%) of 121, 26 (33.8%) of 77, and 37 (40.7%) of 91 for FC, FDr, FABD, and UFBD, respectively (p < 0.001).. Individuals with Rome IV-defined IBS exhibited higher levels of anxiety, depression, or somatoform-type symptom reporting. IBS was the most stable and the likeliest disorder that the other four functional bowel disorders would fluctuate to.

Topics: Adult; Constipation; Diarrhea; Flatulence; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children of Mediterranean area using Rome IV criteria and to compare the prevalence of FGIDs using Rome IV and Rome III criteria.. This was a cross-sectional study enrolling children and adolescents living in Croatia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, and Serbia. Subjects were examined in relation to the presence of FGIDs, using the Rome IV criteria. Data were compared with the results of a previous study using Rome III data.. We analyzed 1972 children ages 4 to 9 years (group A), and 2450 adolescents 10 to 18 years old (group B). The overall prevalence of FGIDs was 16% in group A and 26% in group B, with statistical differences among countries in both groups (P < 0.001). In group A, the prevalence of FGIDs and of functional constipation (FC) was significantly lower than in the previous study (P < 0.001), whereas in group B no significant difference was found. In both groups of age, the prevalence of abdominal migraine and irritable bowel syndrome decreased significantly (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) using Rome IV versus Rome III criteria, conversely functional dyspepsia increased (P < 0.001).. FGIDs are common in children and adolescents, their frequency increases with age, and there is a significant variation in the prevalence of some FGIDs among different European countries. The application of the Rome IV criteria resulted in a significantly lower prevalence of FGIDs in children compared with Rome III criteria.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Constipation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Prevalence; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

Chronic constipation (CC) is a major public health condition and CC management remains challenging.. We aimed to evaluate the CC (and subtypes) prevalence in a Southern Europe Mediterranean country using Rome IV criteria, and to assess related factors, toilet and healthcare seeking behaviours.. Cross-sectional epidemiological survey, conducted in general community and representing the Portuguese population according to sex and age. The questionnaire covered bowel habits, factors potentially associated with CC (demographic, health/lifestyle, toilet behaviours) and data regarding healthcare seeking.. From the study data of 1950 individuals were analyzed. The answer rate was 68% and 1335 questionnaires were available for calculation. The CC prevalence was 17.8%, with respectively 9.3% of Functional Constipation (FC) and 8.5% of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - subtype constipation (IBS-C). The likelihood of constipation was significantly higher in younger (OR 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.007-1.031), solo (OR 2.48; 95% CI, 1.7-3.47) and low-income (OR 2.40; 95% CI, 1.77-3.47) individuals. Constipated individuals spent more time at defecation, longer than 5 min (p = 0.001), and had particular toilet behaviours (absence of a morning pattern [p = 0.008], the use of triggers [p = 0.001] and reading/technological material [p = 0.006]) to facilitate the evacuation. Only 39% of affected individuals sought medical advice, mainly IBS-C patients (p = 0.018).. Chronic constipation seems to impact 1 in each 5 Portuguese. Constipated patients are younger, solo, less active and with low income. They develop a clear toilet behaviour profile. FC and IBS-C patients assume particular behaviours.

Topics: Bathroom Equipment; Constipation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Portugal; Prevalence; Rome

Previously, we used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify novel subgroups in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are four other functional bowel disorders that, although characterized as discrete disorders, overlap considerably with, and fluctuate to, IBS. These might instead be conceptualized as a milder form of IBS. We explored this hypothesis using LCA in a cohort of people with non-IBS functional bowel disorders.. We collected demographic, symptom, and psychological health data from 1375 adults in the community who self-identified as having IBS and identified individuals meeting Rome IV criteria for any non-IBS functional bowel disorder. We performed LCA to identify specific subgroups (clusters). We followed participants up at 12 months to reassess gastrointestinal and psychological heath and also gather data about healthcare utilization and impact of symptoms.. 811 people met Rome IV criteria for IBS and 558 Rome IV criteria for another functional bowel disorder (76 (5.5%) functional constipation; 198 (14.5%) functional diarrhea; 129 (9.5%) functional abdominal bloating or distension; and 155 (11.4%) unspecified functional bowel disorder). LCA in these 558 people identified five clusters defined by a combination of gastrointestinal symptoms and the extent of psychological co-morbidity. However, correlation between these clusters and the Rome IV functional bowel disorder diagnoses was poor and 75% of people were classified as having mild IBS using our previous IBS-derived model. By 12 months, one-third of people had fluctuated and met criteria for IBS. Clusters with high psychological burden had a poorer prognosis, with higher rates of medical consultation, medication use, and greater impact of symptoms on daily life.. The functional bowel disorders may be better characterized as a spectrum of IBS rather than separate disorders. Adopting this pragmatic stance may help to simply diagnosis, treatment, and recruitment of patients to research trials.

Topics: Adult; Constipation; Flatulence; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Latent Class Analysis; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are a very common pediatric disease, with strong implications for children and their families. We aimed to determine their frequency in our environment (per Rome IV criteria) and to establish if there is seasonal variability in diagnosis.. Descriptive, prospective study. For 12 months, children under 16 years of age with suspected FGIDs who had a first pediatric gastroenterology consultation were included and classified according to Rome IV criteria. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS v22.. 574 children received consultations, 67% were >4 years of age. FGIDs were suspected in 44.6% of the patients, 32.4% were diagnosed according to Rome IV criteria (16.4% <4 years, 40.3% >4 years). 51.1% were female, average age of 8.4 ± 4.2 years and mean of 7 months of symptoms until diagnosis (range 3-150). In patients <4 years, the most common disorders were functional constipation (48.4%), regurgitation (22.5%) and functional diarrhea (16.1%); in patients >4 years of age, functional abdominal pain (29%), functional dyspepsia (28.4%) and functional constipation (16.8%) were most frequent. We didn't discern seasonal variations in diagnosis in the global study population (p = 0.96) or by age group (<4 p = 0.51; >4 p = 0.57).. FGIDs account for one third of our patients' consultations. While the Rome IV criteria are more inclusive than before, almost 30% of patients with suspected FGIDs don't meet said criteria. Although a seasonal difference regarding diagnosis was observed, it wasn't statistically significant either in the sample group as a whole or by age group.

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Constipation; Dyspepsia; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Rome

There is little data on the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in patients with symptoms compatible with functional bowel disorders (FBDs). Previous studies have only focused on diagnostic outcomes of colonoscopy in those with suspected irritable bowel syndrome using historic Rome I-III criteria, whilst having partially assessed for alarm features and shown markedly conflicting results. There is also no colonoscopy outcome data for other FBDs, such as functional constipation or functional diarrhea. Using the contemporaneous Rome IV criteria we determined the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in patients with symptoms compatible with a FBD, stratified diligently according to the presence or absence of alarm features.. Basic demographics, alarm features, and bowel symptoms using the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire were collected prospectively from adults attending out-patient colonoscopy in 2019. Endoscopists were blinded to the questionnaire data. Organic disease was defined as the presence of inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, or microscopic colitis.. 646 patients fulfilled symptom-based criteria for the following Rome IV FBDs: IBS (56%), functional diarrhea (27%) and functional constipation (17%). Almost all had alarm features (98%). The combined prevalence of organic disease was 12%, being lowest for functional constipation and IBS-constipation (∼6% each), followed by IBS-mixed (∼9%), and highest amongst functional diarrhea and IBS-diarrhea (∼17% each); p = .005. The increased prevalence of organic disease in diarrheal versus constipation disorders was accounted for by microscopic colitis (5.7% vs. 0%, p < .001) but not inflammatory bowel disease (7.2% vs. 4.0%, p = .2) or colorectal cancer (4.2% vs. 2.3%, p = .2). However, 1-in-4 chronic diarrhea patients - conceivably at risk for microscopic colitis - did not have colonic biopsies taken. Finally, only 11 of 646 (2%) patients were without alarm features, in whom colonoscopy was normal.. Most patients with symptoms of FBDs who are referred for colonoscopy have alarm features. The presence of organic disease is significantly higher in diarrheal versus constipation disorders, with microscopic colitis largely accounting for the difference whilst also being a missed diagnostic opportunity. In those patients without alarm features, the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was nil.

Topics: Adult; Colonoscopy; Constipation; Diarrhea; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Rome

Functional constipation (FC) is one of the functional bowel disorders with symptoms of constipation in the Rome IV criteria. This study aimed to examine the epidemiology of FC in a large-scale survey of individuals undergoing a medical check-up in Japan.. A total of 13 729 subjects who underwent a medical check-up at MedCity21 between April 2018 and March 2019 were given a questionnaire that inquired about bowel habits. Among them, 10 658 subjects participated in this study, and FC was diagnosed based on the Rome IV criteria.. The number of subjects who fulfilled diagnostic criteria of FC was 220, and the prevalence of FC was 2.1%. Compared with subjects with non-FC, those with FC were more complaining of abdominal bloating and distension, feeling stressed, getting annoyed, lack of motivation, fatigue upon waking, and feeling depressed. The risk of FC was significantly lower among subjects who drank alcohol more than 5 days a week, exercised for more than 30 min at least twice a week for more than 1 year, and were getting enough rest by sleeping, whereas it was significantly higher among women and subjects who were eating faster than other people.. The prevalence of FC in Japanese subjects during a medical check-up was relatively low compared with that in Western countries. Subjects with FC had troublesome symptoms, and it might be suggested that female sex, lack of regular exercise with moderate activity, insufficient rest by sleeping, and eating faster were a risk of FC.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Constipation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Rome

The Rome IV criteria for disorders of gut-brain interaction define irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a functional bowel disorder associated with frequent abdominal pain of at least 1 day per week. In contrast, functional diarrhea (FD) and functional constipation (FC) are relatively painless. We compared differences in mood and somatization between Rome IV IBS and FC/FD.. A total of 567 patients with Rome IV defined IBS or FD/FC completed a baseline questionnaire on demographics, abdominal pain frequency, mood (hospital anxiety and depression scale, HADS), and somatization (patient health questionnaire, PHQ-12). The primary analysis compared differences in mood and somatization between IBS and FC/FD, and the relative influence of abdominal pain frequency on these extra-intestinal symptoms. The secondary analysis evaluated differences across individual IBS subtypes, and also between FC and FD.. Patients with IBS-in comparison to those with FC/FD-had significantly higher mean PHQ-12 somatization scores (9.1 vs. 5.4), more somatic symptoms (6.0 vs. 4.3), abnormally high somatization levels (16% vs. 3%), higher HADS score (15.0 vs. 11.7), and clinically abnormal levels of anxiety (38% vs. 20%) and depression (17% vs. 10%). Increasing abdominal pain frequency correlated positively with PHQ-12, number of somatic symptoms, and HADS; p < 0.001. No differences in mood and somatization scores were seen between individual IBS subtypes, and nor between FC and FD.. Based on the Rome IV criteria, IBS is associated with increased levels of psychological distress and somatization compared with FD or FC. Patients reporting frequent abdominal pain should be comprehensively screened for psychosomatic disorders, with psychological therapies considered early in the disease course.

Topics: Constipation; Diarrhea; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Psychological Distress; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

To evaluate the agreement between the Rome III and Rome IV criteria in diagnosing pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), we conducted a prospective cohort study in a public school in Cali, Colombia. Children and adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age were given the Spanish version of the Questionnaire on Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Rome III version on day 0 and Rome IV version on day 2 (48 h later). The study protocol was completed by 135 children. Thirty-nine (28.9%) children were excluded because of not following the instructions of the questionnaire. The final analysis included data of 96 children (mean 15.2 years old, SD ± 1.7, 54% girls). Less children fulfilled the criteria for an FGID according to Rome IV compared to Rome III (40.6% vs 29.2%, p=0.063) resulting in a minimal agreement between the two criteria in diagnosing an FGID (kappa 0.34, agreement of 70%). The prevalence of functional constipation according to Rome IV was significantly lower compared to Rome III (13.5% vs 31.3%, p<0.001), whereas functional dyspepsia had a higher prevalence according to Rome IV than Rome III (11.5% vs 0%).Conclusion: We found an overall minimal agreement in diagnosing FGIDs according to Rome III and Rome IV criteria. This may be partly explained by the differences in diagnostic criteria. However, limitations with the use of questionnaires to measure prevalence have to be taken into account. What is Known: • The Rome IV criteria replaced the previous Rome III criteria providing updated criteria to diagnose functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). • Differences found between Rome IV and historic Rome III FGID prevalence may have been affected by changes in prevalence over time or differences in sample characteristics. What is New: • We found a minimal agreement between Rome III and Rome IV FGID diagnosis, especially in the diagnoses of functional constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and functional dyspepsia. • The minimal agreement may be partly explained by changes in diagnostic criteria, but limitations with the use of questionnaires to measure prevalence have to be taken into account.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Colombia; Constipation; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Rome; Surveys and Questionnaires

World Health Organization step III opioids are required to relieve moderate-to-severe cancer pain; constipation is one of the most frequent opioid-induced side effects. A fixed combination, prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone (OXN), was developed with the aim of reducing opioid-related gastrointestinal side effects. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of prolonged-release oxycodone (OXY) alone to OXN in opioid-naïve cancer patients with moderate-to-severe pain.. Propensity analysis was utilized in this observational study, which evaluated the efficacy, safety, and quality of life.. Out of the 210 patients recruited, 146 were matched using propensity scores and included in the comparative analysis. In both groups, pain intensity decreased by ≈3 points after 60 days, indicating comparable analgesic efficacy. Responder rates were similar between groups. Analgesia was achieved and maintained with similarly low and stable dosages over time (12.0-20.4 mg/d for OXY and 11.5-22.0 mg/d for OXN). Bowel Function Index (BFI) and laxative use per week improved from baseline at 30 days and 60 days in OXN recipients (-16, P<0.0001 and -3.5, P=0.02, respectively); BFI worsened in the OXY group. The overall incidence of drug-related adverse events was 28.9% in the OXY group and 8.2% in the OXN group (P<0.01); nausea and vomiting were two to five times less frequent with OXN. Quality of life improved to a significantly greater extent in patients receiving OXN compared to OXY (increase in Short Form-36 physical component score of 7.1 points vs 3.2 points, respectively; P<0.001).. In patients with chronic cancer pain, OXN provided analgesic effectiveness that is similar to OXY, with early and sustained benefits in tolerability. The relationship between responsiveness to OXN and clinical characteristics is currently being investigated.

Topics: Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Chronic Pain; Constipation; Defecation; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Laxatives; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Neoplasms; Oxycodone; Pain Measurement; Propensity Score; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Rome; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Pharmacologic treatments for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and medical management of symptoms are increasingly based on IBS subtype, so it is important to accurately differentiate patients. Few studies have classified subtypes of pediatric IBS, and conclusions have been challenged by methodologic limitations. We performed a prospective study to investigate the distribution of IBS subtypes among children and adolescents based on stool diary information, and compared subtypes according to demographic and pain characteristics.. We studied 129 subjects, ages 7 to 18 years (mean age, 11.4 ± 2.8 y; 60.5% female; 69.0% white) who met Pediatric Rome III IBS criteria and were part of larger studies of children with functional gastrointestinal disorders, recruited from primary and tertiary care centers. Children completed daily pain and stool diaries for 2 weeks. Participants were assigned IBS subtypes based on their reported stool information per adult Rome III criteria. IBS subtypes were compared for demographic variables and pain characteristics.. IBS with constipation was the most common subtype of the disorder (58.1% of subjects), whereas mixed IBS was the least common (2.3% of subjects); 34.1% of subjects were unsubtyped IBS and 5.4% had IBS with diarrhea. The groups of different IBS subtypes did not differ significantly by sex, age, ethnicity, or pain characteristics.. In contrast to adults, in children, IBS with constipation and unsubtyped IBS are the most common subtypes, whereas IBS with diarrhea and mixed IBS are less common. Demographic and pain characteristics cannot distinguish subtypes.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Constipation; Diarrhea; Female; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Male; Pain; Prospective Studies; Rome; Severity of Illness Index

Chronic constipation (C), among gastrointestinal symptoms, is commonly associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and probably attributable to hypercalcemia.. To evaluate in patients affected with PHPT the prevalence of C utilizing a validated questionnaire and the current prevalence of C compared to that observed in the past and to evaluate the relationship between C and the severity of PHPT.. 55 outpatients affected with PHPT, admitted to our Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities in the years (2006-2009) were studied (group 1: 50 postmenopausal women and 5 men, mean age 61.9 +/- 9.4 years), together with 55 sex and age matched controls (group 2). Also considered were a group of PHPT patients observed, in the same ambulatory, during the years '70-'80 (group 3). A questionnaire, Rome II criteria, was administered and used to define C, whereas only anamneses were used to define C in group 3.. The prevalence of C in patients with PHPT was 21.8% in group 1 vs 12.7% in group 2 (n.s.) and 32.7% in group 3. There is a decreasing trend in the prevalence of C in patients with PHPT as observed from 1970-89 to 2006-2009 (p < 0.05). The reduction of C was associated together with a significant reduction in the serum calcium level (p < 0.001). The presence of C vs its absence in patients with PHPT is characterized by higher values of calcemia (p < 0.001), ionized calcium (p < 0.001), and parathyroid hormone (p = 0.019).. The actual prevalence of C in patients with PHPT is not significantly different from that found in the control group and is decreasing with respect to the past years. Moreover, C seems to be associated with the severity of the disease rather than with the diagnosis of PHPT per se.

Topics: Aged; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Chronic Disease; Constipation; Female; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rome; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors

The study aimed to assess, in pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), the incidence of visit to the ED for functional constipation (FC), symptoms, signs of presentation, and management from ED physicians.. This is a retrospective study of hospital records for a period of 1 year at the ED of "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. Children younger than 15 years discharged from ED with a diagnosis of FC in the 1-year period were included.. We analyzed medical records of 202 patients (<15 years) with FC diagnosis at discharge. Main outcome measures included incidence, demographic characteristics, clinical presentations of FC patients, and ED physicians' interventions.. Two hundred two FC cases were studied in a 12-month study period. Compared with the total number of ED consultations, the incidence of FC was 0.4%. The number of patients 4 years or younger was much higher than patients older than 4 years (P < .0001). Bowel frequency of 3 bowel movements or less per day, acute abdominal pain, and stool retention were found to be significantly more frequent than the other presenting symptoms (P < .0001). The number of patients beginning a therapy after ED discharge was significantly higher compared with that already treated before ED visit (P < .0001). Discharged patients were referred to community pediatricians significantly more frequently than to pediatric gastroenterologists (P = .003).. Emergency department physicians have an important role in the diagnosis and management of FC despite its relatively low incidence. Indeed, ED intervention in many cases leads not only to recognition this disease but also to an approach for therapeutic strategy, avoiding complications of chronic constipation.

Topics: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Constipation; Continuity of Patient Care; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medical History Taking; Physical Examination; Retrospective Studies; Rome