IRRITABLE BOWEL-TYPE SYMPTOMS IN HMO EXAMINEES - PREVALENCE, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND CLINICAL CORRELATES

A study of irritable bowel-type symptoms in 1264 health examinees usin g a self-administered questionnaire and psychological tests revealed t hey are common throughout adulthood. Of affected subjects 68% were fem ale, and those with the more severe type (greater-than-or-equal-to 3 M anning criteria) were predominantly female (80%). Fewer Asians than ot her racial/ethnic groups had these symptoms. Nongastrointestinal sympt oms, physician visits, incontinence, laxative use, a stress effect on bowel pattern and abdominal pain, abdominal surgery, hysterectomy, chi ldhood abuse, use of mind-altering drugs, depression, and anxiety were correlated with irritable bowel-type symptoms. Regression analysis fo und some of the clinical correlates were independent markers for irrit able bowel-type symptoms and that sexual abuse was related to nongastr ointestinal symptoms and abdominal surgery independent of irritable bo wel-type symptoms. More severe irritable bowel-type symptoms were espe cially associated with nongastrointestinal symptoms, stress effects, s exual abuse, use of sedatives and oral narcotics, and a past alcohol p roblem. There are important demographic and clinical correlates with i rritable bowel-type symptoms.