Su1270 School-Based Study of Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP) in Siberian Adolescents: Prevalence Structure According Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms ROME III Version (QPGS-RIII) and Association With Psychologic Problems According Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

Abstract

Several studies have used the QPGS-RIII criteria to estimate the rates of various functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) among children and adolescents with primary symptoms of RAP. In a population based study, children with RAP had significantly more psychologic problems than children without RAP. The majority of those studies have been performed in regions with low prevalence rates of childhoodHelicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, however, such data are limited in Russia, where prevalence of Hp infection in adolescents is high (25-67 %). METHODS: 459 urban (Krasnoyarsk) adolescents aged 12-18 were screened for RAP (criteria were as follow: (1) More than two episodes of RAP per month in the last two months OR (2) Abdominal pain intensity according 7-items Likert-type pain scale ≥ 4). 75 screen positive adolescents were tested with QPGS-RIII and self report version of SDQ questionnaires [1, 2]. Two-tailed exact Fisher and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of RAP according assigned screening criteria was 16.3 % (75/459) with higher level in girls, than in boys (21.9 % vs 11.0 %, p=0.002) and in 12-14 age group, than in 15-18 age group (27.4 % vs 11.7 %, p 0.1). The rates of FGIDs in accordance to QPGS-RIII scoring instructions were as follows: functional dyspepsia 0.4 % (2/459), irritable bowel syndrome 2.6 % (12/459), abdominal migraine (AM) 2.0 % (9/459), functional abdominal pain 1.3 % (6/459), functional abdominal pain syndrome 0.65 % (3/459). The total FGIDs prevalence (any of them) was 6.5 % (30/459) and non-cyclic pain-related FGIDs rate (with exception of AM)was 4.6% (21/459). Functional constipationwas registered in 2.8 % (13/459) screen positive adolescents. We have found a strong positive association between RAP frequency and SDQ total difficulties score (p<0.001), hyperactivity score (p= 0.065) and, especially, emotional symptoms score (p<0.001, fig. 1). No differences have been found in conduct problems, peer problem, and prosocial behaviour scores. CONCLUSION: Thus, prevalence of RAP and FD in Siberian adolescents is not higher than ones previously reported in regions with low prevalence rates of childhood Hp infection. We suppose that Hp do not play causative role in adolescent's RAP in majority of cases and other factors can be more important, especially emotional problems. REFERENCES: 1. Goodman R. // Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2001. Vol. 40, N 11. P. 1337-1345. 2. Rasquin A., Di Lorenzo C., Forbes D. et al. // Gastroenterology. 2006. Vol. 130, N 5. P. 1527-1537.