Ali Ayaz, Shah Afaq, Amina Amina, Ruddock-Scott Zalika Aisha, Shah Zobia, Rios Valery Lopez, Abid Nimra, Gul Nida, Khan Kashif, Faisal Shah
Internal Medicine, MTI-Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, Peshawar, PAK.
Medicine, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, PAK.
Cureus. 2025 Apr 24;17(4):e82900. doi: 10.7759/cureus.82900. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Introduction Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Medical students, due to academic stress, irregular dietary patterns, and disrupted sleep, may be at a higher risk of developing IBS. This study aims to determine the prevalence of IBS symptoms among medical students, identify associated risk factors, and assess its impact on daily activities and academic performance. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in Peshawar, Pakistan. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire based on the Rome IV criteria for IBS. Information on demographic characteristics, stress levels, dietary habits, sleep patterns, and IBS symptoms was obtained. The sample size consisted of 480 participants selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, and the chi-square test was applied to determine associations between IBS symptoms and various risk factors. Results The prevalence of IBS symptoms among medical students was found to be 60%. A statistically significant association was observed between IBS and gender, with female students being more affected (p < 0.05). Higher academic years had an increased prevalence of IBS symptoms compared to junior students. Additionally, students residing in hostels were more likely to report IBS symptoms than those living at home. Stress, irregular dietary habits, and poor sleep quality were identified as key contributing factors. IBS symptoms significantly impacted daily activities and academic performance in affected students. Conclusion This study highlights a high prevalence of IBS symptoms among medical students, with stress, dietary habits, and sleep disturbances playing a crucial role. Female students, those in senior academic years, and hostel residents exhibited a higher burden of symptoms. Early interventions focusing on stress management, dietary modifications, and lifestyle improvements are essential to mitigate IBS-related health concerns in this population.
引言
肠易激综合征(IBS)是一种常见的功能性胃肠疾病,其特征为反复腹痛和排便习惯改变。医学生由于学业压力、饮食不规律和睡眠紊乱,患IBS的风险可能更高。本研究旨在确定医学生中IBS症状的患病率,识别相关危险因素,并评估其对日常活动和学业成绩的影响。
方法
在巴基斯坦白沙瓦的医学生中进行了一项横断面研究。使用基于IBS罗马IV标准的有效问卷收集数据。获取了有关人口统计学特征、压力水平、饮食习惯、睡眠模式和IBS症状的信息。样本量由通过分层随机抽样技术选取的480名参与者组成。使用SPSS 20版对数据进行分析,并应用卡方检验来确定IBS症状与各种危险因素之间的关联。
结果
发现医学生中IBS症状的患病率为60%。观察到IBS与性别之间存在统计学上的显著关联,女生受影响更大(p < 0.05)。与低年级学生相比,高年级学生中IBS症状的患病率更高。此外,住在宿舍的学生比住在家里的学生更有可能报告IBS症状。压力、饮食不规律和睡眠质量差被确定为关键促成因素。IBS症状对受影响学生的日常活动和学业成绩有显著影响。
结论
本研究强调医学生中IBS症状的患病率很高,压力、饮食习惯和睡眠障碍起着关键作用。女生、高年级学生和宿舍居民表现出更高的症状负担。针对压力管理、饮食调整和生活方式改善的早期干预对于减轻该人群中与IBS相关的健康问题至关重要。