Table 1 Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in the United Kingdom and in other Western and Eastern populations, using Manning, Rome I, and Rome II diagnostic criteria
CountryPrevalence and criteria used (%)Reference
Sample sizeManningRome IRome II
UK30113.6Thomson & Heaton, 198015
UK162022Jones & Lydeard, 199216
UK18969.5Heaton et al, 199217
UK317916.7Kennedy & Jones, 200018
UK3111 (PC*)2.5Thomson et al, 200019
UK480710.5Wilson et al, 200520
USA78917.1Drossman et al, 198221
USA56615.0Sandler et al, 198422
USA8358.7 to 17.0Talley et al, 199123
USA3254.9 to 10.9Talley et al, 199224
USA543011.6Drossman et al, 199325
USA302220.0Talley et al, 199526
USA6438.6 to 20.4Saito et al, 200027
USA6436.84.7Saito et al, 200328
USA500914.1Hungin et al, 200529
Canada114913.513.1Thompson et al, 200230
Canada4372.5Li et al, 200331
Australia291016.7Boyce et al, 200032
New Zealand98018.83.3Barbezat et al, 200233
Netherlands4385.8Boekema et al, 200134
Spain20004.4 to 13.6Mearin et al, 200135
Italy5338.5Gaburri et al, 198936
France20,0004.7Coffin et al, 200437
Denmark45816.6Agreus et al, 199538
Finland36319.7 to 16.25.55.1Hillila & Farkkila, 200439
Sweden129014.0Kay et al, 199440
Iran47625.8Hoseini-Asl & Amra, 200341
Turkey99819.1Karaman et al, 200342
Turkey17666.3Celebi et al, 200443
Bangladesh24268.5Masud et al, 200144
Hong Kong10006.6Kwan et al, 200246
Hong Kong129817.43.7Lau et al, 200247
Japan23125.0Schlemper et al, 199348
Singapore6962.3Ho et al, 199849
South China417813.0Xiong et al, 200450
Singapore227611.010.48.6Gwee et al, 200451
Malaysia94915.7Rajendra & Alahuddin, 200452
  • *PC, primary care patients.