This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Epidemiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • prevalence is approximately10-15% of the general population (1)
  • affects females more often than males (approximate ratio 2:1)
  • annual incidence is probably 1-2%
  • only 20-30% of sufferers will ever consult their GP
  • constipation predominant IBS is more common in females
  • prevalence of IBS varies minimally with age (2)
  • IBS most often affects people between the ages of 20 and 30 years (3)
  • people presenting with IBS symptoms commonly report incomplete evacuation/ rectal hypersensitivity, as well as urgency, which is increased in diarrhoea-predominant IBS. About 20% of people experiencing faecal incontinence disclose their incontinence only if asked (3)

Reference:

  1. Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 1999 Oct;13(3):371-84.
  2. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002 Aug;97(8):1910-5
  3. NICE (April 2017).Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care
  4. Prescribers' Journal (1997);37(4): 199-205.

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.