Evaluation of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and its relation to some risk factors in above 20 years old females, Shahrekord, 2002

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is chronic bowel symptoms with pain and change of defecation habit without any known structural cause. It is more common among women. We studied the prevalence of IBS among 2675 females (aged 20-90 years) selected by proportional cluster random sampling form Shahrekord residents. Based on Rome II criteria the prevalence of reported symptoms were as follows: relief of abdominal pain by defecation in 225 persons (8.5%), abdominal pain associated with changes in frequency of bowel habits in 177 persons, (6.7%) and change of stool consistency in 177 persons, (6.7%). Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome based on RomeII criteria among women in Shahrekord was 5.6%. Our study showed that IBS symptoms, even though highly prevalent, were less frequent than western countries. Prevalence of IBS in our region seems to be similar to other Asian countries such as Hong-Kong.