Primary Health Care: Open Access

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients' Use of Primary Healthcare and Self-Reported Health

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Introduction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGD) that affects a small percentage of the general population but is a "hidden" public health problem. IBS has been linked to a wide range of psychological and physical symptoms and discomforts, as well as a decreased quality of life and higher health-care utilization [1]. Fear of serious gastrointestinal (GI) or other sickness is a common reason for this group of people to seek medical help. For correct diagnosis of FGDs and treatment options for this patient population, adequate assessment of co-morbidity is critical. Despite the fact that FGDs are seldom life-threatening, excluding severe disorders such as various types of gastrointestinal cancer is a significant clinical problem. Because psychological, social, and biological factors all play a role, therapeutic decision-making is often complex, even though the impact of each of these elements is likely to be different in various patients and may change over time for the same person [2-4]. Today's treatments are starting to address the multifactorial etiology, and include both pharmacological and non-pharmaceutical options, such as hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy [5]. In contrast to several of these findings, a recent study in primary care found that IBS patients were not heavy users of health care and that the majority of IBS patients only saw their GP for abdominal symptoms. According to other studies, over half of all IBS patients in general care and specialised clinics had at least one co-morbid symptom. Fibromyalgia, migraine, chronic fatigue syndrome, major depression, and panic disorder are among the comorbidities associated with IBS, according to Hudson et al. Patients who have one or more co-morbid illnesses have more severe IBS symptoms, more mental complaints, and more illness-related absenteeism than those who do not. In addition to the irritable bowel syndrome itself, psychosocial factors may impact health-care seeking behaviours [3]. Anxiety and depression are more common in IBS patients than in healthy controls, according to studies. The causal link between IBS and psychological factors, on the other hand, is yet uncertain. Although co-morbidity can influence the diagnosis and management of IBS, there are few studies on diagnosed co-morbidity in primary care IBS patients. Because there is overlap between other GI diseases, it is generally known that a broad range of diagnostic techniques is required to rule out other conditions when IBS is suspected. GI and other co-morbidity have previously been described in IBS cases, but most of these studies were conducted among IBS health care seekers, and just a few were based on a population-based design [4,5].

Conclusion

IBS sufferers appear to be more concerned about major diseases than the overall population. In comparison to age- and sex-matched controls in the general population, they also appear to have greater physician-diagnosed co-morbidity. This co-casual morbidity's direction has to be researched more.

References

1. Chang, F., & Lu, C.L. “Irritable bowel syndrome and migraine; bystanders or partners?” J Neurogastenterol Motil 19(2013):301-311.
2. Mulak, A., & Paradowski, L. “Migraine and irritable bowel syndrome.” Neurol Neurochir Pol 39(2005):S55-S60.
3. Vos, D.M. “Joint involvement associated with inflammatory bowel disease.” Dig Dis 27(2009):511-515.
4. Bijkerk, C.J., et al. “Irritable bowel syndrome in primary care: the patients' and doctors' views on symptoms, etiology and management. Canadian journal of gastroenterology.” Can J Gastroenterol 17.6(2003):363-406.
5. El-Salhy, M. “Recent developments in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome.” World J Gastroenterol 21.25(2015):7621-7636.