The Association of Insomnia, Perceived Immune Functioning, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Complaints.

Stephanie Balikji,Aletta Kraneveld,Karel Brookhuis,Marlou Mackus,Joris Verster,Johan Garssen,Thomas Roth

doi:10.3390/jcm7090238

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have a significant negative impact on quality of life, mood and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between experiencing IBS symptoms and insomnia, and perceived health status. Method: An online survey was conducted among n = 1950 Dutch university students (83.6% women). IBS was assessed with the Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire, quality of life with the WHO-5 wellbeing index, and sleep outcomes with the SLEEP-50 questionnaire. Perceived immune functioning and general health were assessed using 1-item scales. Results: IBS symptom severity was significantly associated with insomnia complaints (r = 0.32, p = 0.0001), sleep quality (r = −0.21, p = 0.0001), sleep onset latency (r = 0.11, p = 0.0001) and the number of nightly awakenings (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001). Total sleep time was not significantly associated with IBS symptom severity. Significant correlations were also found between IBS symptom severity and perceived general health (r = −0.30, p = 0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r= −0.25, p = 0.0001), and quality of life (r = −0.24, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Experiencing IBS complaints is associated with reduced perceived immune functioning, a poorer perception of general health, and sleep disturbances. These effects are reflected in a significantly lower reported quality of life in subjects with more IBS and/or sleep complaints.

Highlights

The ROME IV criteria define Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a functional bowel disorder, which is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with defecation or a change in bowel habits [1]
The pathophysiology of IBS is unclear, it is believed that IBS complaints are related to changes in mucosal barrier integrity and secretion resulting in an increased sensitivity of the bowel, changed bowel motility, changed in cerebral-visceral perception, and the presence of psychological and physiological stressors, and food intake [2,3,4]
The present study aimed to evaluate to what extent IBS symptoms are associated with sleep complaints, perceived immune functioning and general health perception

Summary

Introduction

The ROME IV criteria define Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a functional bowel disorder, which is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with defecation or a change in bowel habits (e.g., the frequency of stool, and its appearance) [1]. Results: IBS symptom severity was significantly associated with insomnia complaints (r = 0.32, p = 0.0001), sleep quality (r = −0.21, p = 0.0001), sleep onset latency (r = 0.11, p = 0.0001) and the number of nightly awakenings (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001). Significant correlations were found between IBS symptom severity and perceived general health (r = −0.30, p = 0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r= −0.25, p = 0.0001), and quality of life (r = −0.24, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Experiencing IBS complaints is associated with reduced perceived immune functioning, a poorer perception of general health, and sleep disturbances. These effects are reflected in a significantly lower reported quality of life in subjects with more IBS and/or sleep complaints

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Conclusion