IBS: A common gastroenterological condition

IBS is more prevalent among women, whose incidence is 1.5 to 3 fold higher than in men. Internationally 14% of women and 8.9% of men will suffer from IBS [3]. The condition appears within all age groups, including children and the elderly, although half of patients will report having suffered with symptoms before the age of 35 years [4,5]. Although IBS is thought to be a life-long condition, there is actually a 25% lower incidence in those aged over 50 [2]. It remains unclear if there is any link with socioeconomic status, but there does appear to be a familial link indicated by a two-fold increase in risk amongst first degree relatives [6].

Various other co-existing conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic back pain, chronic pelvic pain, chronic headache and temporomandibular joint dysfunction seem to occur twice as often in IBS patients in comparison to the general population and affect around 50% of IBS patients [7].

Although IBS can significantly reduce a patient's quality of life and can be associated with depression and anxiety, IBS is not associated with an increased risk of mortality [8].