Gender differences in gastrointestinal, biopsychosocial and healthcare-seeking behaviors in Chinese patients with irritable bowel syndrome predominant with diarrhea

• Published in: BMC gastroenterology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 102 - 12
• Main Authors: Fan, Wenjuan, Chen, Yang, Fang, Xiucai, Zhu, Liming, Fei, Guijun, Lu, Jia, Li, Xiaoqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.03.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abdominal Pain - complications; Abdominal Pain - etiology; Analysis; Care and treatment; Causes of; China - epidemiology; Comorbidity; Complications and side effects; Defecation; Depression, Mental; Diagnosis; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - diagnosis; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Diarrhea - etiology; Female; Females; Gender; Gender differences; Health aspects; Health behavior; Health care; Humans; Intestine; Irritable bowel syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - complications; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - diagnosis; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - epidemiology; Male; Males; Pain; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Psychological aspects; Psychosocial disorder; Quality of Life; Sex differences; Sex differences (Psychology); Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; China; Diarrhea; Female; Gender; Psychosocial disorder; Irritable bowel syndrome
• ISSN: 1471-230X; 1471-230X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12876-024-03153-7

Evidences of comparison of sex difference in Chinese irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients were few. We aim to compare gender difference in the biopsychosocial characteristics of Chinese patients of IBS predominant with diarrhea (IBS-D). IBS-D patients meeting Rome III criteria were enrolled. We administered IBS symptom questionnaires, evaluation of psychological status (HAMD and HAMA scales) and IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL), dietary habits, healthcare seeking behaviors, and compared biopsychosocial characteristics between male and female patients. Four hundred and ninety patients were enrolled including 299 males and 191 females. More female patients reported abdominal pain associated with defecation (84.3% vs. 74.9%, P = 0.014) while males reported more abdominal discomfort (39.8% vs. 26.7%, P = 0.003). Females had higher IBS symptom score (9.7 ± 1.7 vs. 9.4 ± 1.4, P = 0.025) and more of females had severe abdominal pain/discomfort (17.8% vs. 12.4%, P = 0.013) while there were no significant differences of other bowel symptoms. Females reported higher incidence of comorbid anxiety state (64.9% vs. 52.8%, P = 0.008) and depression state (35.6% vs. 19.7%, P < 0.001) than males. Female patients also had lower IBS-QOL score (70.2 ± 20.4 vs. 75.1 ± 16.8, P = 0.028) and more frequent consultations, as well as less response for dietary modification than males. Chinese female patients with IBS-D had more prominent psychosocial disorders compared to male patients and their abdominal symptoms had minor differences.