Irritable bowel syndrome prevalence in city center of Sivas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We planned to determine irritable bowel syndrome prevalence in our region with its distribution according to clinical characteristics of patients and the factors which are considered to be related with irritable bowel syndrome. METHODS: 998 of 1250 individuals (mean age 38.99+0.44) replied to our questionnaire including Rome II criteria. RESULTS: We found the irritable bowel syndrome prevalence in the city center of Sivas to be 19.1%. Distribution of irritable bowel syndrome (+) patients age groups showed no significant difference but irritable bowel syndrome was significantly more common in females. The most common occupation showing irritable bowel syndrome positivity was workers. Irritable bowel syndrome prevalence was also significantly higher in persons not eating three regular meals per day. There was a significantly positive correlation between irritable bowel syndrome prevalence and psychological events, previous abdominal operations and infections. A change in bowel habitus was observed in 41.8% of irritable bowel syndrome patients, and the most common change was constipation. 39.8% of the irritable bowel syndrome patients had applied to the doctor, most often to doctors of internal medicine. We found the irritable bowel syndrome prevalence not to be related with educational status, smoking, daily tea and coffee consumption, alcohol intake, menstrual periods or weight loss. CONCLUSION: Irritable bowel syndrome prevalence in our region with its demographic characteristics was similar to the results seen in western countries.