OBJECTIVES Like any other health-related disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has a differential distribution with respect to socioeconomic factors. This study aimed to estimate and decompose educational inequalities in the prevalence of IBS.
METHODS
Sampling was performed using a multi-stage random cluster sampling approach. The data of 1,850 residents of Kish Island aged 15 years or older were included, and the determinants of IBS were identified using a generalized estimating equation regression model. The concentration index of educational inequality in cases of IBS was estimated and decomposed as the specific inequality index.
RESULTS
The prevalence of IBS in this study was 21.57% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.69 to 23.44%). The concentration index of IBS was 0.20 (95% CI, 0.14 to 0.26). A multivariable regression model revealed that age, sex, level of education, marital status, anxiety, and poor general health were significant determinants of IBS. In the decomposition analysis, level of education (89.91%), age (−11.99%), and marital status (9.11%) were the three main contributors to IBS inequality. Anxiety and poor general health were the next two contributors to IBS inequality, and were responsible for more than 12% of the total observed inequality.
CONCLUSIONS
The main contributors of IBS inequality were education level, age, and marital status. Given the high percentage of anxious individuals among highly educated, young, single, and divorced people, we can conclude that all contributors to IBS inequality may be partially influenced by psychological factors. Therefore, programs that promote the development of mental health to alleviate the abovementioned inequality in this population are highly warranted.
Summary
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is prevalent in the general population, but there are few reports on bowel habits and IBS in high school students in Korea. This study aims to describe the prevalence of IBS in high school students in Korea and to investigate the influence of lifestyle factors including dietary habits, on the IBS. This study also investigates relationship between anxiety, depression and IBSprevalence.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study on 1,018 students (451 males and 567 females) form freshman to senior of a high schools in Seoul. All students were requested to fill in a self-reported questionnaire. IBS was diagnosed based on the Rome II criteria. Those having past medical history of organic gastrointestinal disorders and any one of the 'alarm factors'(e.g. continuous hematochezia, weight loss, or anemic symptom) were excluded from the IBS group. For the evaluation of risk factors on the IBS, we surveyed dietary habit, health behavior, past medical history, the Hollingshed index for the measurement of socioeconomic status, Beck's Anxiety Inventory for the anxiety, and the Children's Depression Inventory for the depression.
RESULTS
The prevalence of IBS was 19.1%. Family history of abdominal discomfort (odds ratio 2.07, 95% 1.46-2.92) and having night snack (odds ratio 1.46, 95% CI 1.09-1.94) were significantly different between the IBS group and non-IBS group. There was a linear trend towards the higher prevalence of IBS with fewer hours of exercise (odds ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.95-1.04). Menstruation, stress, and irregular eating were the significant provocation factors of IBS.
Anxiety and depression was not significantly higher in in the IBS group.
CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of the IBS in high school students from this study was higher compared with those reported in college students in Korea. This study shows that family history, dietary factors, lifestyle, and grade were significantly related to IBS. From our study, we found that there are multifaceted health aspects required to reduce symptoms, such as dietary education and encouragement to change lifestyle for controlling stress.