Abstract
BackgroundGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common functional gastrointestinal conditions with a significant impact on daily life. The objectives were to analyse general self-rated health and self-reported functional capacity in adults meeting the criteria for GERD, FD and IBS, respectively, and in individuals who meet the criteria for more than one of the conditions.MethodsA nationwide study of 100,000 individuals aged 20 years and above, randomly selected in the general Danish population. A web-based questionnaire survey formed the basis of this study. Questions regarding FD and IBS were extracted from the ROME III adult questionnaire. Questions regarding GERD were developed based on the Montreal definition. Self-rated health and functional capacity was measured by single global questions.ResultsRespondents meeting the criteria for either GERD, FD or IBS have significantly higher odds of reporting poor self-rated health and impaired functional capacity compared to individuals not experiencing these functional gastrointestinal conditions. Furthermore, respondents with overlapping gastrointestinal (GI) symptom complexes have significantly higher odds of reporting poor self-rated health and impaired functional capacity compared to respondents with symptoms compatible with only one of the symptom complexes.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that individuals experiencing symptoms of GERD, FD or IBS report poor self-rated health as well as impaired functional capacity. The impact on self-rated health and functional capacity is highest among individuals experiencing overlapping symptoms of GERD, FD and IBS.
Highlights
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common functional gastrointestinal conditions with a significant impact on daily life
The prevalence of GI symptoms is high in the general population; in a recent study, we found that 20% of the adult Danish population has experienced symptoms of either GERD, FD or IBS within a 4 week period [3]
In a subgroup of participants meeting at least one of the criteria for the GI symptom complexes, respondents with overlapping GI symptom complexes had significantly higher odds of reporting poor self-rated health and impaired functional capacity compared to respondents with symptoms compatible with only one of the symptom complexes, Table 4
Summary
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common functional gastrointestinal conditions with a significant impact on daily life. Global consensus has been established, and research has operationalised gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms into symptom complexes of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) [1, 2]. Previous studies have shown that individuals suffering from either GERD, FD or IBS have a substantially lower quality of life [4,5,6]. These findings emphasise the importance of the patient’s own assessment. It has been demonstrated that self-rated health and quality of life are distinct constructs that should be differentiated [7]; when evaluating quality of life, patients give much greater emphasis to mental health than to physical functioning, whereas the opposite is the case for self-rated health [8]
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