Differences in dietary habits of people with vs without irritable bowel syndrome and their association with symptom and psychological status: A pilot study

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics, n (%)

	IBS patients (n = 25)	Non-IBS participants (n = 178)	P value
Age, yr	36.0 (29.5, 43.0)	32.0 (28.0, 38.0)	0.215
Gender, male:female	10 : 15	71 : 107	0.991
Body mass index, kg/m2a	22.31 (21.22, 23.40)a	23.50 (21.3, 26.2)	0.033
Level of educationa			0.007
Junior middle school	2 (8.0)	5 (2.8)
Senior middle school	5 (20.0)	46 (25.8)
Undergraduate	10 (40.0)	110 (61.8)
Master degree or above	8 (32)	17 (9.6)
Drinking			0.699
Yes	8 (32.0)	64 (36.0)
No	17 (68.0)	114 (64.0)
Smoking			0.753
Yes	6 (24.0)	48 (27.0)
No	19 (76.0)	130 (73.0)
Predominant bowel pattern			N/A
Diarrhea	7 (28)	N/A
Constipation	5 (20)	N/A
Mixed	9 (36)	N/A
Unclassified	4 (16)	N/A

The data are presented as the median (Q1, Q3) or numbers (percentages).

^aP < 0.05 vs controls.

IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; N/A: Not applicable.