CV Almario et al. Neurogastroenterology and Motility; https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.70020. Trends in Prevalence of Rome IV Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationally Representative Sample of Over 160,000 People in the US

Methods: From May 2020 to May 2022, the authors performed a series of cross-sectional online surveys among a representative sample of adults ≥ 18 years old in the US (n=160,154). We administered Rome IV gastroduodenal and bowel DGBI questionnaires.

Key findings:

•  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) increased from 6.1% [May 2020] to 11.0% [May 2022]
• In addition, the prevalence of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) increased mildly from 6.0% [May 2020] to 6.4% [May 2022]
• No changes in prevalence were seen for the other examined gastroduodenal and bowel disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI)

My take: This study identified increases in the prevalence of IBS during COVID. Increases in IBS following other enteric infections (eg. norovirus, shigella, campylobacter) has been shown previously as well.

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