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Research article
Khaled Ali Jadallah
King Abdullah University Hospital, Jordan University of Science and Technology
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9177-0980
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
The literature on the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its correlates in Middle Eastern countries is scarce. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of IBS and its associated factors among Jordanian medical students.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study at two medical faculties in northern Jordan. Using convenience sampling, we recruited 1094 medical students. Participants completed an anonymous semi-structured questionnaire inquiring about socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics, as well as IBS symptoms. We used the Rome III criteria to diagnose IBS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to identify anxiety and depression. The chi-square test was used to determine differences between categorical variables and stepwise logistic regression was used to measure the association between IBS and its risk factors.
Results
The prevalence of IBS in our sample was 30.9%. Binary logistic regression analysis of factors associated with IBS indicated having a family history of IBS as a strong predictor of the disease (OR = 8.09; CI: 5.84–11.19). Students at second and third-year levels of their study had ORs of about 4 (CI: 2.20–6.54) and 3 (CI: 1.70–5.30) of suffering from IBS, respectively, as compared to students at first-year level (p = 0.001). Increased anxiety score (OR = 1.88; CI: 1.30–2.71), poor sleep quality (OR = 1.76; CI: 1.13–2.76), female gender (OR = 1.59; CI: 1.14–2.20) and living in a school dormitory (OR = 1.35; CI: 1.00-1.84) were significantly associated with IBS (p < 0.05). Conversely, consumption of junk food, BMI of participants, and physical inactivity were not significantly associated with IBS occurrence.
Conclusions
Irritable bowel syndrome is a highly prevalent disorder in a university-based population in the Jordanian context, with several modifiable and non-modifiable factors being associated with its occurrence. A better understanding of the associated risk factors is crucial for a holistic therapeutic approach. Longitudinal studies are necessary to assess whether this association is causal.
Keywords
Irritable bowel syndrome, Rome III criteria, Jordan; lifestyle, Medical students, Prevalence
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This is a preprint. It has not completed peer review.
Research article
Khaled Ali Jadallah
King Abdullah University Hospital, Jordan University of Science and Technology
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9177-0980
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 16 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
The literature on the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its correlates in Middle Eastern countries is scarce. This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of IBS and its associated factors among Jordanian medical students.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study at two medical faculties in northern Jordan. Using convenience sampling, we recruited 1094 medical students. Participants completed an anonymous semi-structured questionnaire inquiring about socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics, as well as IBS symptoms. We used the Rome III criteria to diagnose IBS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to identify anxiety and depression. The chi-square test was used to determine differences between categorical variables and stepwise logistic regression was used to measure the association between IBS and its risk factors.
Results
The prevalence of IBS in our sample was 30.9%. Binary logistic regression analysis of factors associated with IBS indicated having a family history of IBS as a strong predictor of the disease (OR = 8.09; CI: 5.84–11.19). Students at second and third-year levels of their study had ORs of about 4 (CI: 2.20–6.54) and 3 (CI: 1.70–5.30) of suffering from IBS, respectively, as compared to students at first-year level (p = 0.001). Increased anxiety score (OR = 1.88; CI: 1.30–2.71), poor sleep quality (OR = 1.76; CI: 1.13–2.76), female gender (OR = 1.59; CI: 1.14–2.20) and living in a school dormitory (OR = 1.35; CI: 1.00-1.84) were significantly associated with IBS (p < 0.05). Conversely, consumption of junk food, BMI of participants, and physical inactivity were not significantly associated with IBS occurrence.
Conclusions
Irritable bowel syndrome is a highly prevalent disorder in a university-based population in the Jordanian context, with several modifiable and non-modifiable factors being associated with its occurrence. A better understanding of the associated risk factors is crucial for a holistic therapeutic approach. Longitudinal studies are necessary to assess whether this association is causal.
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