Prevalence estimates for gastrointestinal (GI) diagnosis according to GI (non-alarm) symptoms, GI history, and non-GI risk factors
| Lower GI illness v IBS | Upper GI illness v FD | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower GI illness (%) | IBS (%) | Upper GI illness (%) | FD (%) | |
| IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; FD, functional dyspepsia. | ||||
| *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. | ||||
| Abdominal pain | ||||
| Upper abdominal pain | 37.9 | 62.6*** | 66.1 | 88.6*** |
| Lower abdominal pain | 66.7 | 79.9* | 33.5 | 31.4 |
| Pain history >2 y | 36.4 | 56.5** | 39.4 | 37.1 |
| Pain >6 times/year | 66.7 | 93.9*** | 64.5 | 82.9** |
| Intermittent pain | 40.9 | 46.7 | 42.6 | 48.6 |
| Pain lasting >30 min | 48.5 | 76.6*** | 54.2 | 67.1 |
| Pain before meals | 10.6 | 17.8 | 22.3 | 30.0 |
| Pain <30 min after meals | 18.2 | 28.5 | 24.7 | 28.6 |
| Pain >30 min after meals | 37.9 | 42.1 | 38.6 | 41.4 |
| Radiating outside belly | 15.2 | 43.0*** | 27.5 | 40.0* |
| Pain relieved by | ||||
| Belching | 13.6 | 18.2 | 26.7 | 31.4 |
| Bowel movement | 33.3 | 55.1** | 26.7 | 24.3 |
| Eating | 7.6 | 19.2* | 17.9 | 15.7 |
| Antacids | 9.1 | 15.4 | 31.5 | 24.3 |
| Pain made worse by | ||||
| Food or milk | 28.8 | 40.2 | 28.7 | 40.0 |
| Alcohol | 7.6 | 15.4 | 22.7 | 20.0 |
| Pain associated with: | ||||
| More bowel movements | 37.9 | 50.9 | 22.3 | 21.4 |
| Looser bowel movements | 30.3 | 50.0** | 24.3 | 24.3 |
| Bowel symptoms | ||||
| Mucus per rectum | 34.8 | 35.5 | 15.1 | 15.7 |
| <3 movements weekly | 12.1 | 12.6 | 8.4 | 12.9 |
| >3 movements daily | 34.8 | 30.8 | 17.1 | 12.9 |
| Straining on defecation | 40.9 | 46.7 | 35.1 | 30.0 |
| Loose/watery stools | 51.5 | 54.7 | 29.9 | 27.1 |
| Hard/lumpy stools | 34.8 | 41.6 | 33.1 | 40.0 |
| Incomplete evacuation | 57.6 | 72.4* | 48.2 | 41.4 |
| Urgency | 50.0 | 62.1 | 38.6 | 28.6 |
| Constipation | 3.0 | 5.6 | 3.2 | 10.0* |
| Diarrhoea | 18.2 | 8.9* | 5.6 | 5.7 |
| Other GI risk factors | ||||
| Nausea | 22.7 | 39.3** | 31.5 | 40.0 |
| Heartburn | 24.2 | 30.4 | 55.0 | 41.4* |
| Reflux | 9.1 | 23.8** | 39.0 | 27.1 |
| Bloating | 53.0 | 75.2*** | 55.8 | 52.9 |
| Abdominal surgery | 48.5 | 61.7 | 57.4 | 54.3 |
| Ulcer | 22.7 | 17.3 | 29.5 | 25.7 |
| Childhood history | 12.1 | 26.6** | 15.1 | 18.6 |
| Other risk factors | ||||
| Current smoker | 19.7 | 24.8 | 17.5 | 22.9 |
| Alcohol use (any) | 69.7 | 53.7** | 59.8 | 58.6 |
| Aspirin use (any) | 27.3 | 19.6 | 33.1 | 11.4*** |
| Paracetamol use | 9.1 | 19.6* | 66.1 | 78.6* |