One in three Australians has a gut disorder
15 November 2002
Functional gastrointestinal disorders affect one in 3 Australians, recent research shows.
Data from 3240 adults showed one in 3 people reported at least one functional gastrointestinal disorder, while one in 5 people reported more than 2.
Factors such as neuroticism, anxiety, bowel habit disturbance, abdominal pain frequency and increasing age were linked to the presence of a functional gastrointestinal disorder.
However, there was no link between psychological morbidity and functional disorders, the researchers commented (American Journal of Gastroenterology 2002; 97: 2290-99).
Some functional gut disorders
According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, a functional disorder is where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function rather than an identified anatomical or biochemical cause.
Examples include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome;
- Constipation;
- Diarrhoea;
- Pelvic floor pain;
- Incontinence;
- Oesophageal disorders including gastro-oesophageal reflux;
- Gastroduodenal disorders;
- Abdominal bloating or pain;
- Biliary disorders.
Last Reviewed: 18 November 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 15/11/02
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