W Häuser1, G Schmutzer, E Brähler. 1. Innere Medizin I, Klinikum Saarbrücken gGmbH, Winterberg 1, 66119, Saarbrücken, Deutschland, whaeuser@klinikum-saarbruecken.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are no data available on the prevalence of disabling abdominal pain and menstrual cramp in adults in Germany. METHODS: Abdominal pain and menstrual cramp, additional somatic symptoms and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ) 15 and 9 in persons ≥ 14 years from a sample representative of the general German population. The association of disabling abdominal and menstrual cramp with demographic and clinical variables was tested by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2524 out of 4064 (62.1 %) contacted persons participated in the study. Of the participants 11.9 % reported suffering from slight abdominal pain and 0.9 % reported suffering from severe abdominal pain within the last 4 weeks. Female gender with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.23 (95 % confidence interval CI 1.67-2.98, p < 0.001), younger age (OR 0.97, 95 % CI 0.96-0.98, p < 0.001), physical symptom burden PHQ 15 (OR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.26-1.40, p < 0.0001) and depression PHQ 9 (OR 1.13, 95 % CI 1.08-1.77, p < 0.0001) were predictive for abdominal pain. Of the women aged 14-55 years 19.8 % reported to be slightly troubled by menstrual cramp and 3.9 % reported suffering from severe menstrual cramp within the last 4 weeks. Menstrual cramps were predicted by younger age (OR 0.96, 95 % CI 0.94-0.97, p < 0.001), somatic symptom burden PHQ 15 (OR 1.24, 1.12-1.36, p < 0.0001) and depression PHQ 9 (OR 1.08, 95 % CI 1.01-1.15, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Persons in the general German population frequently reported slightly disabling abdominal pain and menstrual cramp; however, severely disabling abdominal pain and menstrual cramp were rarely reported. Abdominal pain and menstrual cramps were associated with additional somatic complaints and depression.
BACKGROUND: There are no data available on the prevalence of disabling abdominal pain and menstrual cramp in adults in Germany. METHODS:Abdominal pain and menstrual cramp, additional somatic symptoms and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ) 15 and 9 in persons ≥ 14 years from a sample representative of the general German population. The association of disabling abdominal and menstrual cramp with demographic and clinical variables was tested by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2524 out of 4064 (62.1 %) contacted persons participated in the study. Of the participants 11.9 % reported suffering from slight abdominal pain and 0.9 % reported suffering from severe abdominal pain within the last 4 weeks. Female gender with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.23 (95 % confidence interval CI 1.67-2.98, p < 0.001), younger age (OR 0.97, 95 % CI 0.96-0.98, p < 0.001), physical symptom burden PHQ 15 (OR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.26-1.40, p < 0.0001) and depression PHQ 9 (OR 1.13, 95 % CI 1.08-1.77, p < 0.0001) were predictive for abdominal pain. Of the women aged 14-55 years 19.8 % reported to be slightly troubled by menstrual cramp and 3.9 % reported suffering from severe menstrual cramp within the last 4 weeks. Menstrual cramps were predicted by younger age (OR 0.96, 95 % CI 0.94-0.97, p < 0.001), somatic symptom burden PHQ 15 (OR 1.24, 1.12-1.36, p < 0.0001) and depression PHQ 9 (OR 1.08, 95 % CI 1.01-1.15, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:Persons in the general German population frequently reported slightly disabling abdominal pain and menstrual cramp; however, severely disabling abdominal pain and menstrual cramp were rarely reported. Abdominal pain and menstrual cramps were associated with additional somatic complaints and depression.
Authors: K T Zondervan; P L Yudkin; M P Vessey; C P Jenkinson; M G Dawes; D H Barlow; S H Kennedy Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2001-07 Impact factor: 5.386