A P S Hungin1, L Paxman2, K Koenig3, J Dalrymple4, N Wicks5, J Walmsley3. 1. School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, Stockton-on-Tees, UK. 2. Incite, London, UK. 3. Johnson & Johnson Ltd, Maidenhead, UK. 4. Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. 5. Right Medicine Pharmacy Ltd., Stirling, Scotland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The extent of episodic diarrhoea in the community is relatively unknown. AIM: To ascertain the prevalence, symptoms and management behaviours associated with self-reported diarrhoea across 11 countries. METHODS: Community screening surveys were conducted using quota sampling of respondents to identify a nationally representative sample of individuals suffering from 'episodic' diarrhoea (occurring once a month or more often). Second-phase in-depth surveys provided data on epidemiology, symptoms, attributed causes and management of episodic diarrhoea. RESULTS: A total of 11 508 phase 1 and 6613 phase 2 surveys were completed. The prevalence of self-reported episodic diarrhoea ranged from 16% to 23% across the 11 countries. The majority of episodic diarrhoea sufferers were female (57%) and were not diagnosed with pre-existing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); IBS diagnosis ranged from 9% in Mexico to 44% in Italy. Diarrhoea was frequently attributed to anxiety/stress, food-related causes, gastrointestinal 'sensitivity' and menstruation. Accompanying symptoms included 'stomach pain/cramping' (35-62%), 'stomach grumbling' (29-68%) and 'wind' (18-74%). The proportion of episodic sufferers who reported treating their symptoms with remedies or medications ranged between 46% in Belgium and Canada and 90% in Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of the population in middle- to high-income countries report episodic diarrhoea in the absence of a pre-existing diagnosis. These symptoms are likely to be associated with substantial social and economic costs, and have implications on how best to configure and guide self-led, pharmacist-led and primary care management.
BACKGROUND: The extent of episodic diarrhoea in the community is relatively unknown. AIM: To ascertain the prevalence, symptoms and management behaviours associated with self-reported diarrhoea across 11 countries. METHODS: Community screening surveys were conducted using quota sampling of respondents to identify a nationally representative sample of individuals suffering from 'episodic' diarrhoea (occurring once a month or more often). Second-phase in-depth surveys provided data on epidemiology, symptoms, attributed causes and management of episodic diarrhoea. RESULTS: A total of 11 508 phase 1 and 6613 phase 2 surveys were completed. The prevalence of self-reported episodic diarrhoea ranged from 16% to 23% across the 11 countries. The majority of episodic diarrhoea sufferers were female (57%) and were not diagnosed with pre-existing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); IBS diagnosis ranged from 9% in Mexico to 44% in Italy. Diarrhoea was frequently attributed to anxiety/stress, food-related causes, gastrointestinal 'sensitivity' and menstruation. Accompanying symptoms included 'stomach pain/cramping' (35-62%), 'stomach grumbling' (29-68%) and 'wind' (18-74%). The proportion of episodic sufferers who reported treating their symptoms with remedies or medications ranged between 46% in Belgium and Canada and 90% in Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of the population in middle- to high-income countries report episodic diarrhoea in the absence of a pre-existing diagnosis. These symptoms are likely to be associated with substantial social and economic costs, and have implications on how best to configure and guide self-led, pharmacist-led and primary care management.
Authors: Ramesh P Arasaradnam; Steven Brown; Alastair Forbes; Mark R Fox; Pali Hungin; Lawrence Kelman; Giles Major; Michelle O'Connor; Dave S Sanders; Rakesh Sinha; Stephen Charles Smith; Paul Thomas; Julian R F Walters Journal: Gut Date: 2018-04-13 Impact factor: 23.059