CLINICAL PROFILE OF HOSPITALISED IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME PATIENTS IN INDIA

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder. However due to poor health-seeking behaviour of the people and difficulties faced by medical professionals to diagnose IBS, it remains an under-diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder. Objectives: To study the risk factors, clinical presentation, and management of IBS among in-patients admitted at two tertiary care hospitals in Mangalore. Methods: Forty-one patients diagnosed with IBS based on ROME IV criteria between January 2017 to March 2021 were included. A semi-structured proforma was used to collect the required information. Results: The mean age at diagnosis among the patients was 44.6 ± 17.8 years. Twenty-four (58.5%) of them were females. Family history of IBS was present among five (12.2%) patients. IBS-M [18 (43.9%)] was the most common type. Alarming signs like blood and mucus in the stools were present each among eight (19.5%) patients. Weight loss was the most common extra-intestinal symptom [nine (21.9%)]. Mental health problems and psychosomatic disorders were present among seven (17.1%) and six (14.6%) patients, respectively. The most common drug used to treat constipation was Ispaghula husk [17 (41.5%)], and to treat diarrhoea was Loperamide [14 (34.1%)]. As many as 15 (36.6%) patients did not improve with treatment. None of the patients were put on non-pharmacological therapies. Conclusion: Holistic management of alarming signs such as blood and mucus in the stools and extra-intestinal symptoms like weight loss is required among IBS patients. Various mental health problems and psychosomatic disorders need to be screened and treated as a part of its management. Non-pharmacological therapies need to be also introduced to improve its treatment outcomes.