Are bowel symptoms and psychosocial features different in irritable bowel syndrome patients with abdominal discomfort compared to abdominal pain?

Table 2 Characteristics of bowel symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients with abdominal pain alone, abdominal discomfort alone, and abdominal pain & discomfort

Variable	Pain group (n = 233)	Discomfort group (n = 83)	Pain & discomfort group (n = 51)	P value
Location1, %				0.213
Left lower quadrant	67 (28.8)	14 (16.9)	12 (23.5)
Umbilical	79 (33.9)	27 (32.5)	20 (39.2)
Lower abdomen	65 (27.9)	23 (27.7)	15 (29.4)
Epigastric	11 (4.7)	2 (2.4)	2 (3.9)
Whole abdomen	12 (4.0)	8 (9.6)	5 (9.8)
Others	24 (10.3)	18 (21.7)	7 (13.7)
Severity, %				0.007
Mild	21 (9.0)	19 (22.9)	6 (11.7)
Moderate	160 (68.7)	55 (66.3)	37 (72.6)
Severe	52 (22.3)	9 (10.8)	8 (15.7)
Frequency, %				0.290
3 d/mo	37 (15.9)	11 (13.3)	4 (7.84)
1 d/wk	25 (10.7)	5 (6.0)	2 (3.9)
>1 d/wk	108 (46.4)	38 (45.8)	27 (52.94)
Every day	63 (27.0)	29 (34.9)	18 (35.3)
Ordinary pain/discomfort, %				< 0.001
Pain alone	84 (36.1)	6 (7.2)	6 (11.8)
Discomfort alone	21 (9.0)	43 (51.8)	3 (5.9)
Pain & discomfort	7 (3.0)	2 (2.4)	28 (54.9)
No pain or discomfort	121 (51.9)	32 (38.6)	14 (27.4)
Defecation-related symptoms, %
Abdominal bloating	93 (39.9)	43 (51.8)	35 (68.6)	0.0013
Abdominal distension	21 (9.0)	13(15.7)	12 (23.5)	0.013
Urgency	197 (84.6)	80 (96.4)	42 (82.4)	0.012,4
Defecation straining	70 (30.0)	25 (30.1)	23 (45.1)	0.10
Sensation of anorectal obstruction	62 (26.6)	30 (36.1)	19 (37.3)	0.13
Anorectal pain	28 (12.0)	15 (18.1)	17 (33.3)	0.0013
Sensation of incomplete evacuation	164 (70.4)	74 (89.2)	39 (76.5)	0.0032
Passing mucus	141 (60.5)	66 (79.5)	39 (76.5)	0.0022

¹Some patients reported more than one location. χ² test, data presented as number (%).

²The difference is between pain group and discomfort group.

³The difference is between pain group and pain & discomfort group.

⁴The difference is between discomfort group and pain & discomfort group.

P value is the difference among pain group, discomfort group, and pain & discomfort group, and superscript letters are significantly different at a P < 0.05.