Abstract
Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are chronic and recurrent disorders, which affect up to 23% of children and adolescents and represent 50% of gastroenterological accesses. The association between FGIDs diagnosed at paediatric age and the onset of migraine or headache and neuropsychiatric diseases in adolescence and adulthood is widely reported in the literature. However, there is still limited knowledge about the long-term prognosis and risk factors for neuropsychiatric pathologies and other comorbidities. Aim: The aim is to assess the prevalence and persistence of FGIDs as well as the occurrence of migraine or headache and neuropsychiatric disorders in a cohort of patients diagnosed with FGIDs 15 years ago compared with a control group of peers. Materials and methods: We enrolled a group of patients diagnosed with FGIDs at paediatric age, at least 10 years ago (FGIDs group, n = 79; median age 23), and control subjects (control group, n = 201; median age 23). In both groups, an online questionnaire created explicitly for the study was submitted in order to investigate the presence of chronic intestinal diseases, migraine, headache or neuropsychiatric disorders. Results: 45.6% (36 out of 79) of patients previously diagnosed with FGIDs still suffer from FGIDs versus 12% (24 out of 201) of healthy controls (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of chronic organic gastrointestinal disorders was comparable in the two groups (2.5% in FGIDs group versus 1% in healthy group, p = 0.3). Thirty-three percent (26 out of 79) of FGIDs patients reported headache or migraine versus 13% (26 out of 201) of healthy peers (p < 0.001). No differences were found regarding the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The outcome at 15 years of FGIDs was characterized by a high prevalence of persisting functional symptoms along with a significant incidence of headaches and migraines. Abbreviation: FGIDs: Functional gastrointestinal disorders; IBS: Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome.
Highlights
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) is a term used to describe a group of different chronic and recurrent gastroenterological clinical pictures that cannot be explained by underlying structural or tissue abnormalities [1]
This study aims to verify the persistence of Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), the prevalence of organic chronic gastrointestinal disorders (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and coeliac disease), headache, depression and anxiety disorders in a group of young adults who had received FGIDs diagnosis during childhood and to compare them with a control group of the general population
The control group included 201 subjects from the general population matched by age and sex to balance the study group
Summary
Functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) is a term used to describe a group of different chronic and recurrent gastroenterological clinical pictures that cannot be explained by underlying structural or tissue abnormalities [1]. FGIDs have an essential impact on the quality of life related to health, private life, education and work. A few studies have evaluated the natural clinical history of FIGDs and their correlation with other comorbidities during adulthood age. This study aims to verify the persistence of FGIDs, the prevalence of organic chronic gastrointestinal disorders (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and coeliac disease), headache, depression and anxiety disorders in a group of young adults who had received FGIDs diagnosis during childhood and to compare them with a control group of the general population
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