Abstract:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disease that affects more than 20% of the general population and mostly seen after 40 years of age. In this study, it was aimed to investigate IBS prevalence in people applied to Family Medicine Policlinics, and their socio-demographic, clinical and lifestyle features. Materials and Methods: This study was performed to 115 patients who accepted to answer the questionnaire and selected randomly among people who applied to Medicine Policlinic for any reason. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic data, dietary and bowel habits, chronic diseases, concomitant symptoms and Rome III criteria. The data was analyzed by SPSS 16.00 program, using Chi-Square and p<0,005 was accepted statistically significant. Results: Mean age of 115 participants was 38.23±15.33 (min: 14, max: 82) and 74 of them were women (64.34%), 41 were men (35.66%). IBS was determined in 28 of (24.34%) participants, according to Rome III criteria. The most common problem of IBS positive patients' was constipation (71.42%; n=20), the most common reason to come to hospital was the IBS's effect on social life (%21.42; n=6) and stress (17.85%; n=5). They mostly applied to Family Medicine and Internal Medicine policlinics. Also the most common tests were abdominal X-ray and gastrointestinal endoscopy. In IBS patients, who diagnosed via Rome III criteria, frequently had tension-type headache.Relation of constipation symptoms to those with positive Rome III criteria was significant (p<0,001). Relation of diarrhea symptoms to those with positive Rome III criteria was significant again (p=0,020). Mucoid feces was the least common (14.28%; n=4) symptom among Rome III criteria positive patients. It has been determined that just 7.14% (n=2) of IBS patients take medicine for the treatment. Conclusion: IBS is a disease that affects one of four people in our population and deteriorates the quality of life. It is very important to pay attention to query the diagnostic criteria of IBS, to motivate the patients for the right treatment and to follow them up for all the physicians, especially who work in primary care.

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