Irritable bowel syndrome among adolescents and adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the features of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adolescents and adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 510 randomly selected participants from Riyadh in November and December 2022. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire distributed on social media and printed in papers containing demographic information, the incidence of IBS, associated factors, and quality of life (QoL). Result: The majority of participants were females (76%) between the ages of 10-20 years (42%), did not have IBS (71%), did not have gastrointestinal tract diseases (75%), were nonsmokers (83%), were not diagnosed with depression (85%), had an income of less than 5,000 Saudi Riyals (39%), had no difficulty in sexual intercourse (56%) and no issues with their closest relationships (60%), and had poor QoL (83%). But individuals from the age group 10-20 years had good QoL (46%). Conclusion: One-third of the study participants were diagnosed with IBS, and the majority had a low QoL. Further public education and prospective research are both welcomed and required.