Estimating the burden of irritable bowel syndrome: analysis of a nationwide korean database.

ABSTRACT:

Background/aims

Management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) imposes a heavy economic burden. This study was to estimate the epidemio-logic features of IBS and to report the IBS burden for the first time in the Korean population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the National Health Insurance (NHI) system database, which covers the entire pop-ulation of Korea. IBS was defined as diagnostic code -10 in adults with any outpatient clinic visits or hospitalization related to IBS. We excluded diseases that mimic IBS symptoms.

Results

A total of 2.42 million (58.2% female) individuals were identified as patients with IBS, yielding an age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of 5.1% in males and 6.9% in females. The prevalence of IBS increased proportionally wit

SUBMITTER: Jung HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4015204 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature