Skip to main content
Log in

Abdominal Pain, Bloating, and Diarrheain the United States:

  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The prevalence and impact of abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea in the adult US population are largely unknown. We conducted a national, cross-sectional, telephone survey of US households to provide estimates of the frequency, duration, severity, and impact of specific digestive symptoms during the previous month. A total of 2510 subjects completed interviews (70.7% response rate). Among the respondents, 1017 (40.5%) reported one or more digestive symptoms within the month before the interview, including abdominal pain or discomfort 21.8%, bloating or distension 15.9%, and diarrhea or loose stools 26.9%. Women were more likely than men to report abdominal pain or discomfort (24.4% vs 17.5%) and bloating or distension (19.2% vs 10.5%), but not diarrhea or loose stools (27.1% vs 26.7%). Symptoms were less common among those ≥60 years of age. More than 65% of respondents rated symptoms as moderate or severe in intensity, and the majority reported limitations in daily activities. We conclude that digestive symptoms are more common than previously recognized and have a significant impact.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Everhart JE, Go VL, Johannes RS, Fitzsimmons SC, Roth HP, White LR: A longitudinal survey of self-reported bowel habits in the United States. Dig Dis Sci 34:1153–1162, 1989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Drossman DA, Li Z, Andruzzi E, Temple RD, Talley NJ, Thompson WG, Whitehead WE, Janssens J, Funch-Jensen P, Corazziari E, Richter JE, Koch GG: US householder survey of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Prevalence, sociodemography, and health impact. Dig Dis Sci 38:1569–1580, 1993

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Heaton KW, Radvan J, Cripps H, Mountford RA, Braddon FEM, Hughes AO: Defecation frequency and timing, and stool form in the general population: A prospective study. Gut 33:818–824, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Drossman DA, Sandler RS, McKee DC, Lovitz AJ: Bowel patterns among subjects not seeking health care. Use of a questionnaire to identify a population with bowel dysfunction. Gastroenterology 83:529–534, 1982

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sandler RS: Epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome in the United States. Gastroenterology 99:409–415, 1990

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Adams PF, Benson V: Current estimates from the National Health interview survey, 1989. Washington, DC, US Government Printing Office, 1990; DHHS publication no. (PHS) 90-1504. Vital and Health Statistics Series 10, No 176, pp 1–221

    Google Scholar 

  7. Everhart JE: Overview. In Digestive Diseases in the United States: Epidemiology and Impact. JE Everhart (ed). Washington, DC, US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. US Government Printing Office, 1994, pp 1–53

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hammond CE: Some preliminary findings on physical complaints from a prospective study of 1,064,004 men and women. Am J Public Health 54:11–23, 1964

    Google Scholar 

  9. Talley NJ, O'Keefe EA, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ 3rd: Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the elderly: A population-based study. Gastroenterology 102:895–901, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hale WE, Perkins LL, May FE, Marks RG, Stewart RB: Symptom prevalence in the elderly. An evaluation of age, sex, disease, and medication use. J Am Geriatr Soc 34:333–340, 1986

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Taub E, Cuevas JL, Cook EW, Crowell M, Whitehead WE: Irritable bowel syndrome defined by factor analysis. Gender and race comparisons. Dig Dis Sci 40:2647–2655, 1995

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Thompson WG, Heaton KW: Functional bowel disorders in apparently healthy people. Gastroenterology 79:283–288, 1980

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Talley NJ, Weaver AL, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ 3rd: Selfreported diarrhea: What does it mean? Am J Gastroenterol 89:1160–1164, 1994

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sandler, R.S., Stewart, W.F., Liberman, J.N. et al. Abdominal Pain, Bloating, and Diarrheain the United States:. Dig Dis Sci 45, 1166–1171 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005554103531

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005554103531

Navigation