From 117 women recruited, we studied 105 (89.7%) women (see flowchart, Fig. 1). Age, BMI with cut points, pain related to menses, and marital status of the total sample, IBS and SxD patients are stated in Table 1. IBS women were older and more likely to be no-singles. Weekly frequency of defecation was lower in IBS vs. controls [9.33±5.85 (7.73–10.94) vs. 13.15±6.89(11.31-14.99) respectively, p = 0.002] but similar in women with SxD versus without SxD [11.24±6.64 (9.21–13.28) vs. 11.15±6.61(9.58–12.72) respectively, p = 0.94].
Quality of life and sexual dysfunction in IBS women and controls
General and specific QOL, as well as FSFI domains of IBS and SxD patients, is shown in Table 2. There were no differences in the domains and total score of the FSFI between IBS and controls.
General QOL (SF-36)
IBS women of our study show lower scores in the domains of body pain, general health, and emotional role meanwhile SxD women showed a difference in mental health. Both diseases have lower scores for physical function, social functioning, PCS, and deterioration in health compared with the previous year.
Specific QOL (IBS-QOL)
IBS women showed lower scores on the eight domains and total score meanwhile SxD patients showed lower scores on seven domains (except body image) and total score.
Overlap of IBS and SxD
IBS patients without SxD patients showed a higher BMI than SxD women. Patients with both diseases were older than controls, reported lower PCS and MCS, and showed health deterioration (Table 3). The IBS-QOL total score was lower in IBS women than controls, and additionally, IBS women with SxD showed the lowest score even vs IBS without SxD patients.
Patients with IBS and SxD showed lower scores in the eight domains of the SF-36 (Fig. 2) and on five domains (except for body image, food avoidance, and social reaction that showed no differences compared with IBS women without SxD) of the IBS-QOL (Fig. 3).
IBS subtype analysis
Twenty-four (47.06%) patients were IBS-U type, 20 (39.22%) were IBS-C, 7 (13.73%) were IBS-D, and there were no IBS-M. No differences (p>0.05) were found in SxD prevalence between IBS-U (29.17%), IBS-C (45%), and IBS-D (42.86%). IBS-C patients showed lower scores on physical function, general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health domains than IBS-U (supplementary file C).
PCS was higher in IBS-U [61.7±8.47 (58.32–65.09)] compared to IBS-C [50.62±11.94 (45.38–55.85), p=0.0008], but not with IBS-D [53.38±9.94 (46.02–60.74), p = 0.5]. There were no differences (p>0.05) in MCS between IBS-U [44.82±6.77 (42.12–47.53)], IBS-D [45.29±5.26 (41.4–49.19)], and IBS-C [42.84±7.35 (39.62–46.06)]. Worst/much worst health change perception showed no difference (p>0.05) within a year between IBS-U (12.5%), IBS-D (28.57%) or IBS-C (35%) groups.
Supplementary file D shows the lower specific quality of life of the eight domains in IBS-C women compared with IBS-U. Total score was lower in IBS-C [64.89±25.26 (53.82-75.96)] compared with IBS-U [85.72±10.41 (81.56-89.89), p= 0.0006] but not with IBS-D [67.54±21.83 (51.37-83.71), p= 0.8].
Virtually all participants [total population (84%), IBS patients (84%), and controls (83%)] showed concordance between BSS and BOS (p> 0.3). Likewise, total population (r=0.83), IBS patients (r=0.9) and controls (r=0.72) showed a direct correlation (p<0.01) between BSS and BOS.
Predictive factors
Singleness decreases the RR of IBS on 0.772 (p=0.01) but not for SxD (RR=0.626, p=0.1). BMI does not affect the IBS (RR=1.3, p=0.3) nor SxD (RR=1.1, p=0.7) women. Pain related to menses shows no differences between IBS versus controls (47.06% vs. 37.04% respectively; RR=0.8, p=0.3) nor SxD positive and negative (37.84% vs. 44.12% respectively; RR=1.1, p=0.6) group. The BSS type 3,4 and 5 were protective factors associated for IBS vs. controls (62.75% vs. 87.04% respectively; RR=0.5543, p=0.006).