Wang, Xiao Jing

AbstractBackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized as a central sensitization syndrome (CSS), a group of conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and restless leg syndrome (RLS) among others with frequent comorbidities of anxiety, depression, and chemical sensitivity. The prevalence of comorbid conditions and their impact on IBS symptom severity and quality of life in rural community populations has not been described.MethodsWe administered a cross‐sectional survey to patients with a documented CSS diagnosis in rural primary care practices to evaluate the relationship between CSS diagnoses, quality of life, symptom severity, and interactions with healthcare providers utilizing validated questionnaires. Subgroup analysis was performed on the IBS cohort. Mayo Clinic IRB approved the study.Key ResultsSeven hundred seventy‐five individuals out of 5000 completed the survey (15.5% response rate) with 264 (34%) reporting IBS. Only 3% (n = 8) of IBS patients reported IBS alone without comorbid CSS condition. Most respondents reported overlapping migraine (196, 74%), depression (183, 69%), anxiety (171, 64%), and fibromyalgia (139, 52%). IBS patients with more than two comorbid CS condition showed significantly higher symptom severity with linear increase. Quality of life was lower in IBS with comorbid conditions, particularly in patients with IBS and RLS (mean EQ5‐D 0.36 vs. 0.8 in IBS only, p < 0.01). Quality of life declined as number of comorbid conditions increased.Conclusions & InferencesPatients with IBS often have multiple CS disorders which increases symptom severity and lowers quality of life. Understanding the impact of multiple CSS diagnoses and treating these as a global condition may improve patient experience.

Summary Background Due to the paucity of targeted therapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), many patients turn to dietary modifications for symptom management. The combination of five subgroups of poorly absorbed and rapidly fermented carbohydrates—fructans, galacto‐oligosaccharides, lactose, excess fructose and polyols—are thought to trigger gastrointestinal symptoms and are referred to collectively as “FODMAPs”. Aims To examine the biological plausibility and mechanisms by which foods high in specific FODMAP subgroups cause symptoms, and to use this information to explore the possibility of targeting select dietary components to allow for a more personalised approach to dietary adjustment Methods Recent literature was analysed via search databases including Medline, PubMed and Scopus. Results Lactose, fructans and galacto‐oligosaccharides have strong biologic plausibility for symptom generation due to lack of hydrolases resulting in distention from osmosis and rapid fermentation. However, excess fructose and polyols may only cause symptoms in specific individuals when consumed in high doses, but this remains to be established. There is evidence to suggest that certain patient characteristics such as ethnicity may predict response to lactose, but differentiation of other subgroups is difficult prior to dietary manipulation. Conclusions While some clear mechanisms of action for symptom generation have been established, further research is needed to understand which patients will respond to specific FODMAP subgroup restriction. We suggest that clinicians consider in some patients a tailored, personalised “bottom‐up” approach to the low‐FODMAP diet, such as dietary restriction relevant to the patients’ ethnicity, symptom profile and usual dietary intake.