Inability of the Rome III Criteria to Distinguish Functional Constipation From Constipation-Subtype Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2010.200
• Publication Date: 2010-05-25T18:35:21Z
• Authors: Reuben K Wong; Olafur S Palsson; Marsha J Turner; Rona L Levy; Andrew D Feld; Michael von Korff; William E Whitehead
• Keywords: Functional constipation

The Rome III classification system treats functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome with (IBS-C) as distinct disorders, but this distinction appears artificial, the same drugs are used to treat both. This study's hypothesis is that FC IBS-C defined by not entities.In all, 1,100 adults a primary care visit for 1,700 age- gender-matched controls from health maintenance organization completed surveys 12 months apart; 66.2% returned first questionnaire. criteria identified 231 201 IBS-C. second survey was 195 of 141 cohorts. Both assessed severity IBS, quality life (QOL), psychological distress.(i) Overlap: if requirement patients meeting IBS cannot be diagnosed suspended, 89.5% cases meet 43.8% fulfill (ii) No qualitative differences between IBS-C: 44.8% report abdominal pain, paradoxically have more symptoms than FC. (iii) Switching diagnoses: months, 1/3 transition change FC.Patients groups. Revisions criteria, possibly including incorporation physiological tests transit pelvic floor function, needed.