Abstract
Background/Aims
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to experience certain urinary symptoms. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and IBS, and to determine their impact on the quality of life.
Methods
E-mails were sent to 23,594 men who were registered at an internet survey company. Subjects were requested to fill out the questionnaires re-garding IBS and LUTS assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS).
Results
Among 601 subjects (mean age, 35.5±8.4) included in the final analysis, 118 (19.6%) fulfilled the Rome II criteria for the diagnosis of IBS. The total mean IPSS of IBS subjects was 9.6, which was significantly higher than the 7.0 of non-IBS subjects (p<0.01). When IPSS was subcategorized into mild, moderate, and severe symptom categories, the proportions with the moderate and severe symptoms among IBS subjects were 33.9% and 13.6% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of non-IBS subjects; (26.9 and 5.2%) (p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, statistically significant association was found between IBS and moderate to severe LUTS (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.27-2.88). IBS subjects also showed a poorer quality of life score than non-IBS subjects (2.24 vs. 1.65, p< 0.001).
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![]() | Fig. 1.Severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in subjects with or without IBS. The proportions of IBS subjects in the ‘moderate’ and ‘severe’ LUTS categories were 33.9% and 13.6%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of non-IBS subjects. ∗ p<0.01 vs. Non-IBS. IBS, irritable bowel syndrome. |
Table 1.
Questionnaire Used to Diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on the Rome II Criteria and to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms according to International Prostate Symptom Score
Over the past year (12 months), have you had abdominal discomfort or pain for more than 12 weeks (3 months) (need not to be consecutive) that has the following feature? | Yes | No | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Abdominal discomfort or pain is relieved with defecation. | |||||||
2. Onset of abdominal discomfort or pain is associated with a change in frequency of stool. | |||||||
3. Onset of abdominal discomfort or pain is associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool. | |||||||
Please answer the following questions about your urinary symptoms. | |||||||
Over the past month, | Not at all | Less than 1 time in 5 | Less than half the time | About half the time | More than half the time | Almost always | |
1. How often have you had a sensation of not emptying | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
your bladder completely after you finish urinating? | |||||||
2. How often have you had to urinate again less than 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
hours after urinating? | |||||||
3. How often have you found you stopped and started | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
again several times when you urinate? | |||||||
4. How often have you found it difficult t | to postpone | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
urination? | |||||||
5. How often have you had a weak urinary | stream? | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6. How often have you had to push or stra | in to begin | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
urination? | |||||||
7. How many times did you most typically | y get up to | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
urinate from the time you went to bed at | night until | or more | |||||
you got up in the morning? (time/night) | |||||||
8. If you were to spend the rest of your life with your urinary condition as it is | Delighted | Pleased | Mostly satisfied | Mixed∗ | Mostly dissatisfied | Unhappy | Terrible |
now, how would you feel about that? | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Table 2.
Subjects Characteristics
Table 3.
Total IPSS and Quality of Life Index Scores of Subjects with or without IBS (Non-IBS)