Copyright
©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2022; 28(33): 4861-4874
Published online Sep 7, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i33.4861
Published online Sep 7, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i33.4861
Table 1 Demographic data for 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 | P value |
Male, % | 117 (50.2) | 56 (67.5) | 32 (62.7) | 0.012 |
Age in yr | 43.7 ± 11.7 | 42.3 ± 10.6 | 40.8 ± 11.0 | 0.23 |
BMI in kg/m2 | 23.0 ± 4.0 | 22.8 ± 4.0 | 22.3 ± 3.8 | 0.56 |
Education level, college and above, % | 71 (30.5) | 29 (34.9) | 13 (25.5) | 0.51 |
Physical labor, % | 135 (57.9) | 42 (50.6) | 34 (66.7) | 0.18 |
Family economic status, well-off & above, % | 105 (45.1) | 44 (53.0) | 18 (35.3) | 0.13 |
Marriage status, married, % | 201 (86.3) | 71 (85.5) | 41 (80.4) | 0.56 |
IBS disease course in yr1 | 6.0 (7.5) | 5.3 (7.0) | 6.0 (7.0) | 0.38 |
IBS type | 0.06 | |||
IBS-D, % | 95.7 | 96.4 | 86.3 | |
IBS-C, % | 3.0 | 2.4 | 7.8 | |
IBS-M, % | 1.3 | 1.2 | 5.9 |
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 |
Table 3 Coexisting extraintestinal symptoms of 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 |
GERD, % | 60 (25.8) | 14 (16.9) | 10 (19.6) | 0.20 |
Heartburn | 35 (15.0) | 6 (7.2) | 6 (11.8) | 0.18 |
Acid reflux | 44 (18.9) | 10 (12.1) | 5 (9.8) | 0.15 |
Food regurgitation | 14 (6.0) | 4 (4.8) | 3 (5.9) | 0.92 |
Retrosternal chest pain | 10 (4.3) | 3 (3.6) | 2 (3.9) | 0.96 |
Functional dyspepsia, % | 86 (36.9) | 23 (27.7) | 18 (35.3) | 0.32 |
Epigastric pain syndrome | 49 (21.0) | 6 (7.2) | 7 (13.7) | 0.012 |
Epigastric pain | 43 (18.5) | 5 (6.0) | 7 (13.7) | 0.022 |
Epigastric burning | 12 (5.2) | 2 (2.4) | 3 (5.9) | 0.54 |
Postprandial distress syndrome | 64 (27.5) | 22 (26.5) | 15 (29.4) | 0.94 |
Postprandial fullness | 57 (24.5) | 20 (24.1) | 9 (17.7) | 0.57 |
Early satiation | 14 (6.0) | 6 (7.2) | 9 (17.7) | 0.023 |
Somatic pain, % | ||||
Headache | 17 (45.9) | 37 (44.6) | 26 (51.0) | 0.76 |
Neck pain | 21 (9.0) | 7 (8.4) | 3 (5.9) | 0.77 |
Backache | 41 (17.6) | 8 (9.6) | 7 (13.7) | 0.21 |
Dyspareunia | 12 (5.2) | 6 (7.2) | 11 (21.6) | < 0.0013,4 |
Menstrual pain1 | 30 (25.9) | 10 (37.0) | 11 (57.9) | 0.0163 |
Table 4 Comorbid anxiety and depression among 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 | P value | |
HAMA score | 16.1 ± 7.3 | 15.5 ± 7.3 | 17.3 ± 7.4 | 0.36 | |
Comorbid anxiety, % | 141 (60.5) | 49 (59.0) | 38 (74.5) | 0.14 | |
Mild | 69 (29.6) | 25 (30.1) | 21 (41.2) | 0.26 | |
Moderate-severe | 72 (30.9) | 24 (28.9) | 17 (33.3) | 0.86 | |
HAMD score | 13.2 ± 6.2 | 12.3 ± 6.1 | 14.3 ± 5.5 | 0.18 | |
Comorbid depression, % | 66 (28.3) | 22 (26.5) | 18 (35.3) | 0.53 | |
Mild | 54 (23.2) | 20 (24.1) | 17 (33.3) | 0.31 | |
Moderate-severe | 12 (5.2) | 2 (2.4) | 1 (2.0) | 0.40 | |
Comorbid anxiety & depression, % | 62 (26.6) | 20 (24.1) | 18 (35.3) | 0.35 |
Table 5 Consultations and medications of 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 | P value |
In the whole disease course | ||||
Consultation times per year1 | 4.6 ± 6.7 | 5.7 ± 6.2 | 4.2 ± 4.1 | 0.54 |
Colonoscopies2 | 1.9 ± 1.4 | 1.5 ± 0.8 | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 0.22 |
In the last year | ||||
Consultation times1 | 4.0 ± 5.7 | 4.5 ± 4.5 | 4.9 ± 4.7 | 0.54 |
Medications, intermittent and long-term use, % | 164 (70.4) | 56 (67.5) | 43 (84.3) | 0.09 |
Antispasmodics use | ||||
Use rate | 29 (12.4) | 24 (28.9) | 12 (23.5) | 0.0023 |
Response rate | 22 (75.9) | 13 (54.2) | 10 (83.3) | 0.12 |
Overall satisfaction to medical care, % | 125 (53.7) | 39 (47.0) | 21 (41.2) | 0.21 |
Table 6 Risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome patients describing symptoms as abdominal pain alone, abdominal discomfort alone, and abdominal pain & discomfort
Partial regression coefficient | Standard error | Wald χ2 | 95%CI | P value | |
Abdominal discomfort alone vs abdominal pain alone | |||||
Male sex | 0.671 | 0.291 | 5.293 | 1.955 (1.104-3.462) | 0.021a |
Severity (mild defecatory pain or discomfort) | 1.391 | 0.525 | 7.018 | 4.020 (1.436-11.253) | 0.008a |
Abdominal pain alone vs abdominal pain & discomfort | |||||
Abdominal bloating | 0.805 | 0.372 | 4.692 | 2.238 (1.080-4.638) | 0.030a |
Anorectal pain | 1.091 | 0.405 | 7.272 | 2.979 (1.347-6.585) | 0.007a |
- Citation: Fang XC, Fan WJ, Drossman DD, Han SM, Ke MY. Are bowel symptoms and psychosocial features different in irritable bowel syndrome patients with abdominal discomfort compared to abdominal pain? World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28(33): 4861-4874
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v28/i33/4861.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v28.i33.4861