Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Its Imprint on the Quality of Life of Undergraduate Students at a Malaysian Medical University
Chitra Govindaraja *
Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia.
Annamalai Chandramouli
Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Than Winn
Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia.
Aung Ko Ko Min
Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia
Heethal Jaiprakash
Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia.
Ameeta Patil
Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia
Sunil Kale
Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia
Sharmila Vedhavathy Sornam
Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Malaysia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Albeit not life-threatening, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) interfere with routine activities and compromise the quality of life (QOL). Except for one survey on the prevalence of IBS among students in Malaysia a decade back, there are no other reports. QOL in IBS is yet to be investigated in this region.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of IBS and its impact on QOL among students at a Malaysian medical university.
Methodology: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based, self- reported study was conducted among 1104 students. The IBS-QOL questionnaire based on Rome III criteria and a demographic questionnaire were used.
Results: The overall prevalence of IBS was found to be 45.3%, with a female preponderance of 49.8%. It was also found to be predominant among Chinese 55% and physiotherapy students 61.7%. IBS Mixed type (IBS-M) was found to be common among all students (78.6%). The mean score for QOL for all IBS symptom positive students was 74.2±22.3.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of IBS has escalated, particularly in Chinese, females and physiotherapy students with IBS-M type being the commonest. Chinese, IBS Diarrhoea type (IBS-D) and those with low-grade symptom severity enjoy a better QOL. Routine screening for IBS symptoms, mindfulness-based stress reduction, encouraging physical activity and reviewing curriculum overload will go a long way to improve the QOL in IBS.
Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome, prevalence, quality of life, undergraduate students.