Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS):
Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common condition that is encountered in general medical practices.
The symptoms due to IBS are very common, affecting about 12% and 20% of men and women respectively in the united states. Despite this high prevalence only 25% of symptomatic patients require medical advice. In the most recent reviews 12% of primary care visits and 28% of referrals are due to IBS.
Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common condition that is encountered in general medical practices.
The symptoms due to IBS are very common, affecting about 12% and 20% of men and women respectively in the united states. Despite this high prevalence only 25% of symptomatic patients require medical advice. In the most recent reviews 12% of primary care visits and 28% of referrals are due to IBS.
IBS worsens primarily the quality of life (QOL) of the patients affected in a way comparable with patients who have significant medical disease.
The annual economics consequences of IBS are substantial:
- It was estimated that IBS accounts foe approximately US$1.7 to US$10 billion in annual direct medical costs per year. In addition to costs from physician visits, diagnostic testing and treatment, women who have IBS are more then twice as likely as women who do not have IBS to undergo abdominal or pelvic surgery. These surgical procedures are frequently performed in a misguided attempt to improve symptoms that are the consequences of IBS.
- Another US$20 billion in indirect costs as as a consequence of work absenteeism and decreased productivity can be attributed to IBS every year.
IBS is one of the leading causes of work absenteeism after the common cold.
