The prevalence and pattern of irritable bowel syndrome among Nairobi University workers
Abstract
INTRODUCTION;
IrritableBowel Syndrome is a prevalent functional bowel disease in the west.
In Africa less research has been done on the subject and in Kenya only one
studyhas been done on IBS.
OBJECTIVES;
To determine the prevalence and clinical subtypes of Irritable Bowel
Syndrome among Nairobi University Workers. To determine the utilization of
health services by IBS patients among Nairobi University workers and the
impactof IBS on workers of Nairobi University.
STUDY DESIGN;
Cross-sectional descriptive study.
STUDY POPULATION ISITE;
University of Nairobi workers working in Nairobi.
RESULTS;
This study recruited 724 Nairobi University workers out of who 79 (11.1%)
fulfilled IBS case definition. The prevalence of IBS among male and female
workers was 10.5% and 11.7% respectively. The mean age was 34.8 ~ 9.2
years with age ranging from 20 to 59 years. IBS was more prevalent among
workers in the 50-60 age group with 16.4% (11).The predominant IBS
subtype was the diarrhoea subtype which represented 42% (32) while
constipation subtype of IBS accounted for 19%(15) and constipation
alternating diarrhoea IBS was 39% (30). 19% of the workers with IBS had
frequent abdominal pain before 15 years of age compared to 8.9.%of workers
with no IBS (P=0.005). In the last one year 48.1% (38) of the workers with IBS
sought medical attention for abdominal pain. The common type of medicine
given to IBS patients was antispasmodic which accounted for 42.1% and
antacids 39.5%. 68.2% of workers with IBS who visited the doctor for
abdominal pain did so because they believed they had a serious disease.
More workers with IBS missed work (8.9%) compared to workers who did not
have IBS (3.7%) (P=0.016). However, comparatively workers with IBS missed
work for fewer days than workers who did not have IBS with 3.50 mean days
versus 4.73 mean days respectively (P=0.547). 13.9% of workers with IBS
had their activities interrupted by IBS symptomatology compared to 5.1% of
workerswith no IBS (P=0.01). Workers with IBS had less days of interruption
of social activities compared to workers without IBS, 1 day versus 4.50 days
respectively. The percentage of workers with IBS whose activities was
interrupted by other illness apart from IBS was 13.9% compared to 9.9% of
theworkers with no IBS (P=0.111).
CONCLUSION;
IBS is a common condition among Nairobi university workers with a
prevalence of 11.1% (95% CI 8.7-13.3%). Diarrhoea was the predominant
subtype of IBS. At least half of the patients with IBS visited the doctor for this
problem per year. Most of the IBS patients who visited the doctors had relief
with the medicine they were prescribed. Interruption of social activities and
missingwork was not significant among IBS workers.
Citation
Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine of the University of Nairobi, 2005Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Medicine