Functional gastrointestinal disorders: Clinical profile in a tertiary care center in Delhi

Abstract

Abstract Background Living with functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) means living with chronic illness. Chronic illness is characterized by long-term courses, unpredictable symptoms, recurrence, and disabling effects that are often accompanied by minimally effective treatment, frustration, social stigma, and isolation. Methods A hospital-based, cross-sectional descriptive study, done from January 2012 to December 2012. Patients were diagnosed according to the ROME III criteria for FGIDs. Results A total of 126 patients with FGIDs were enrolled with a mean age of 31.1 ± 8.2 years. Out of 126 patients, 107 patients had a single FGID, while 19 patients had more than one FGID. FGIDs were more commonly seen in the age group of 26–35 years except for globus hystericus, functional dyspepsia post-prandial distress syndrome which was more common in the age of 16–25 years and functional constipation was more common in the age of 36–45 years. The most common form of IBS seen was diarrhea type, i.e. 51.4%, followed by constipation type (40%) and mixed type (8.6%). Conclusion While much is known about IBS, abdominal pain, and bowel habits in the western world, but data regarding other FGIDs in various patients and non-patient population are lacking. Thus, there is a need of epidemiological studies for the entire spectrum of FGIDs and not only IBS.