Irritable Bowel Syndrome - A descriptive studyof symptom variation

Abstract: Introduction: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder with abroad spectrum of symptoms. The current view on IBS is that there may be similar butdifferent pathologies for different patients with IBS even though they currently are includedin the same diagnostic entity. This could explain the differences in symptoms betweendifferent patients. Aim: To analyze symptom patterns in IBS and to assess differences in symptom patternsbetween the four IBS subgroups, as well as symptom variation during the course of the day. Materials and methods: We analyzed prospective data collected from a 14-day symptomdiary completed by 58 patients with IBS. The data was analyzed using descriptive statisticsand analyses focusing on differences in symptoms between the four IBS subgroups as well assymptom variation during the day. Results: Patients with diarrhea-predominance (IBS-D) had fewer hours of abdominal pain perday compared to the other IBS subgroups. Overall IBS symptom severity (IBS-SSS) did notdiffer between the four IBS subgroups. Bloating was the most commonly reported symptomwith a low frequency during the night but with increasing frequency during the course of theday. We also found a correlation between meal intake and reports of bloating and nausea, butnot with pain episodes. Conclusion: This study demonstrates other differences in the symptom pattern than bowelhabits between the four IBS subgroups, as well as substantial variation in the symptompatterns among individual patients with IBS. Moreover, diurnal symptom variation anddifferent associations between IBS symptoms and meal intake were noted.