Abstract
Insomnia refers to having difficulty sleeping even when given the opportunity and environment to sleep. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional bowel disease that is accompanied by abdominal pain and irregular defecation but not organic lesions. Although insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome are pathophysiologically related, studies on their relationship among adolescents are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome among adolescents and the association between them. In May 2021, a survey was conducted among high school adolescents from Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea, using the Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index and the Rome IV diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests and logistic regression analyses. The incidence of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index score ≥ 10) was 18.4% (n = 74) while that of irritable bowel syndrome was 10.7% (n = 43). Irritable bowel syndrome was strongly associated with an increased incidence of insomnia (odds ratio = 3.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.66–6.53). Therefore, the association between insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome has relevance in the treatment of insomnia in adolescents.
Highlights
Insomnia is a condition in which an individual finds it difficult to sleep despite having the opportunity and environment for adequate sleep
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder accompanied by abdominal pain and changes in the form of bowel movements without the presence of organic lesions [3]
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between insomnia and IBS and was conducted in two high schools in Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea
Summary
Insomnia is a condition in which an individual finds it difficult to sleep despite having the opportunity and environment for adequate sleep. It is a subjective symptom characterized by difficulty in falling asleep (delayed sleep onset), difficulty in maintaining sleep (sleep fragmentation), early awakening, and nonrestorative sleep [1]. The cause of IBS has not been clearly identified, it is reported that gastrointestinal symptoms occur when genetic and psychological factors, such as depression, anxiety, and stress, cause changes in gastrointestinal motility and sensitivity and affect the gut microbiota and the regulation of the gut-brain interactions [4]
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