Abstract

ROMERO, Jenny et al. Estudio de prevalencia del síndrome de intestino irritable en la población venezolana con dolor abdominal. Gen [online]. 2006, vol.60, n.4, pp.296-301. ISSN 0016-3503.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in a Venezuelan population, with a history of abdominal pain, at the following cities: Caracas, Valencia/Maracay, Maracaibo, Puerto Ordaz and Puerto La Cruz/Barcelona, according to the following parameters: age, sex, experienced symptoms, medical attention received and previous diagnosis of IBS. Patients And Methods: This is a descriptive, transversal study, with patients of both genders, 18 years old or older, coming from social layers B, C, D and E of pre-established cities. A modified questionnaire based on the Rome II criteria was administered at random using individual and direct interviews, executed by specially trained interviewers from ESMEFAR (Pharmaceutical Marketing Studies) during 4 weeks, between March and April of 2003. The original sample had 1500 patients that were reduced to 850 after the application of the Rome II criteria. Results and Discussion: The prevalence of IBS in Venezuelan patients with abdominal pain is 59%. Of the patients with IBS, 69 % observed changes in their bowel habits and these changes were more frequently seen in Caracas and Puerto La Cruz/Barcelona. Changes in number of bowel movements for diarrhea and constipation were 33% in each case, followed by the alternating form (27%). Patients between 18 and 28 years old from Puerto La Cruz/Barcelona consulted less to the physician because of IBS, whereas in Caracas, patients attended more frequently (32 %). From the total of patients who fulfilled the ROME II criteria, 97% received treatment, fundamentally for their symptoms (antispasmodics, laxatives, antiflatulents and H2 antagonists). Only 5% of patients with abdominal pain were diagnosed as carriers of IBS. The average time for diagnosis of IBS in our country is 36 months. Conclusions: The prevalence of IBS in the Venezuelan population with abdominal pain surveyed is 59%. The disease patterns found, do not differ from those in world-wide literature. There is an important under diagnosis (mainly at primary care levels) that can influence negatively both, in health costs and in Venezuelans quality of life.

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