Irritable Bowel Syndrome among Medical and Non-Medical Northern Border University Students, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Across Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and alteration in bowel habits. Aim of the study: To determine the overall prevalence, prevalence of each type and risk factors of IBS among Northern Border University (NBU) students, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Material and methods: We use cross sectional, descriptive study with multistage cluster probability sample. Using Rome III criteria questionnaire of IBS; which is a self-administrated consists of ten questions assessing the current status of an apparently normal person. The questionnaire is administrated to Northern Border University students. Results: A total of 228 University students of them, 94 (41.2%) males and 134 (58.8%) females were included in the study. The overall prevalence of IBS according to Rome III criteria in northern border University was (32.5%). The disease prevalence was 33.6% in females and 30.9% in males. Among the study participants, the most common type of IBS was the mixed one 12.7%, followed by the constipation predominant type 10.5%, then the diarrhea pre-dominant type 5.7% while the least common was unsubtyped cases (3.5%). Statistically significant increase in prevalence of this disease was found among female students (60.8% vs. 39.2% in males) (p-value < 0.05), the students who experienced psychic stress and irritability (79.7%) (p-value < 0.05) and students who were obese (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study concluded the prevalence rate of 32.5% for IBS among the students studying in Northern Border University. Stress and high body mass index were significantly associated with IBS. In addition, this study concluded that IBS was not significantly associated with socio-demographic characteristics and smoking.