Prevalence of Migraine, Fibromyalgia, and Depression in IBS Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Cole J Alexander, Rothman Kenneth J, Cabral Howard J, Zhang Yuqing, Farraye Francis A
Primary Institution: Boston University School of Public Health
Hypothesis
Are people with IBS more likely to have migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression compared to those without IBS?
Conclusion
People in the IBS cohort had a 40% to 80% higher prevalence odds of migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression in comparison to people without IBS.
Supporting Evidence
- The IBS cohort had a 60% higher odds of having any one of the three disorders compared to the non-IBS cohort.
- The prevalence of depression was 128 per 1,000 people in the IBS cohort versus 60 per 1,000 in the non-IBS cohort.
- Fibromyalgia occurred in 129 per 1,000 people with IBS compared to 47 per 1,000 without IBS.
- Migraine prevalence was 60 per 1,000 in the IBS cohort compared to 22 per 1,000 in the non-IBS cohort.
Takeaway
People with a gut problem called IBS are more likely to also have headaches, body pain, and feel very sad compared to those who don't have IBS.
Methodology
The study analyzed medical claims data from a large U.S. health plan to identify IBS patients and a comparison group, assessing the prevalence of migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of information bias as IBS patients may have more healthcare interactions, leading to more diagnoses of other conditions.
Limitations
The study relied on insurance claims data, which may not capture all clinical characteristics and could introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
The IBS cohort consisted of 97,593 individuals, with nearly 75% being women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.5 – 1.7
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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