Irritable bowel syndrome. 10% to 20% of older adults have symptoms consistent with diagnosis.

Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder, IBS is traditionally considered to be a condition that primarily affects young and middle-aged adults. However, increasing evidence suggests that prevalence of IBS in older adults may be similar to that in younger adults; therefore, the diagnosis should be considered when a geriatric patient presents with unexplained abdominal symptoms. Because incidences of other conditions with similar symptoms are higher in the geriatric population, use of certain diagnostic tests (eg, colonoscopy) is warranted in this patient population. In addition, because older adults are more likely than younger adults to suffer from comorbid conditions, polypharmacy is common in this patient population, and this should be considered when diagnosing and treating these patients.