For every ten adults in the world, four suffer from functional gastrointestinal disorders of varying severity. This is shown by a study of more than 73,000 people in 33 countries. University of Gothenburg scientists are among those now presenting these results.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders, FGIDs, is a collective term for chronic disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, with severe symptoms, for which clear explanations or connections with objective findings from routine investigations are lacking.
The symptoms may arise throughout the gastrointestinal tract. From the upper part, the esophagus and stomach, they can include heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion (dyspepsia). In everyday parlance, the latter is often called “a sensitive stomach” or “gastritis,” although there is no stomach inflammation. For the lower parts (the intestines), chronic constipation, abdominal distension or bloating, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are among the complaints.
The present study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, gives an overall picture of the global prevalence of FGIDs. Data were collected by means of web-based questionnaires and face-to-face (household) interviews.
Read more at University of Gothenburg
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