IBS related complaints and problems of the primary care and outpatient populations
| Variable (range) | Primary care (n=109) | Outpatient (n=86) | p Value |
| Duration of complaints (1–9) | 6.0 (4.0–9.0) | 6.0 (4.0–8.0) | 0.22 |
| Intensity of abdominal pain (1–5) | 2.0 (2.0–3.0) | 2.0 (2.0–3.0) | 0.009 |
| Frequency of complaints (1–6) | 5.0 (4.0–6.0) | 6.0 (5.0–6.0) | 0.000 |
| Limitation of daily activities (1–4) | 2.0 (2.0–2.0) | 2.0 (2.0–3.0) | 0.000 |
| Avoidance of social or physical activities (1–4) | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | 2.0 (2.0–3.0) | 0.000 |
| Severity score (0–9) | 3.0 (3.0–4.0) | 5.0 (4.0–6.0) | 0.000 |
| Number of visits for abdominal complaints to GP during previous 3 months | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | 0.001 |
| Absenteeism (number of days in previous 3 months) due to abdominal complaints | 0.0 (0.0–2.0) | 0.0 (0.0–2.25) | 0.65 |
A Mann-Whitney U test was performed for all variables.
Median values are presented with interquartile ranges in parentheses.