National Irritable Bowel Syndrome Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doug Stokke, 919-483-2311
Bert Kittner, 919-483-8587

Landmark Survey Shows Significant Impact of Irritable
Bowel Syndrome on Lives of American Women
New York, September 27, 1999 – As many as 1 in 5 women may be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a painful, chronic and debilitating condition marked by abdominal pain and irregular bowel function, according to the most comprehensive national survey ever on IBS. While the condition often results in severe pain, hospitalization, missed work days and limits to social activity, the study reveals that many women may not be getting the help they need because a large majority of doctors do not categorize the disease as a serious medical condition.

The survey, conducted by Abt SRBI and funded by Glaxo Wellcome, found that nearly 40 percent of women with IBS reported experiencing abdominal pain they described as intolerable without some kind of relief. Yet, on average, doctors who treat IBS rated the pain felt by their typical IBS patient as being significantly less severe than patients reported.

Even further, a majority of doctors said that while IBS may be distressing, it is not a serious medical condition. By contrast, the survey showed that three out of ten women with IBS have been hospitalized for their abdominal symptoms at some point and their reported rate of abdominal or intestinal surgery (other than cesarean section) is almost double that of non-sufferers.
These are just some of the disturbing findings from this landmark survey, IBS in American Women. The survey focused on women because they represent about 70 percent of the IBS patient population. Abt SRBI conducted in-depth telephone (random-digit dialing) interviews with 1,014 adult women diagnosed with IBS or suffering abdominal pain, a national cross-section sample of 1,010 women in the general public and a national sample of more than 700 physicians, pharmacists and nurses. Abt SRBI screened a national sample of 21,043 households to identify the 1,014 women with IBS or abdominal pain. Interviewing was conducted in July-August 1999.

"This survey raises a larger issue in women's health, as it illustrates how women's knowledge of their symptoms and bodies often differs dramatically from the knowledge and/or management by healthcare practitioners," said Phyllis Greenberger, Executive Director, Society for Women's Health Research. "It also reveals that some women may not be getting the help that they need."

Everyday Life a Constant Struggle
"IBS affects every aspect of my daily life," said IBS sufferer Lillian Figueroa, age 33. "I can't ride on a city bus or go to the park because there is no bathroom. With the things that I can do, I constantly have to make allowances like leaving extra time in case I experience an episode."

Women with active IBS had three times as many sick days compared to women in the general public, miss work or school twice as often, and almost one in four must allow extra time for their daily commute due to their abdominal symptoms. This workplace impact is a real issue because nearly half of all sufferers surveyed were employed full-time. Moreover, two out of three women with active IBS expressed concern about and are forced to plan their schedules around the location of restrooms.

Left to Manage Alone
Because the cause of IBS is poorly understood, it has often been mislabeled and dismissed as something less than a real medical condition. This confusion appears to have resulted in frustration and a sense of hopelessness among women suffering from IBS. More than one in four women with IBS said that their doctor doesn't understand how much pain or discomfort they feel and that there is no point in consulting their doctor about their symptoms. In fact, 31 percent of women with IBS who have experienced continuous pain for over three months in the past year said they haven't seen their doctor in the last 12 months.

Misconceptions among Some Physicians
IBS sufferers may be falling through the cracks of the healthcare system, as some physicians surveyed who treat IBS still hold many misconceptions about the condition. While nearly two-thirds of physicians believe IBS is primarily a physical condition, nearly a third of all physicians surveyed believe IBS is primarily a psychological problem (33% of primary care physicians, 19% of GI specialists).

"IBS is a real, chronic medical condition with painful and potentially debilitating symptoms," said Lin Chang, MD, co-director of the Neuroenteric Disease Program at the University of California at Los Angles Medical School. "Research suggests that IBS stems from a physiologic abnormality and is clearly not a psychosomatic disorder."

Fifty-eight percent of physicians surveyed think IBS is easy to diagnose. This perception is countered by patient experience, as women with IBS see an average of three physicians over a three- year period before they receive a clear-cut diagnosis. Although published diagnostic guidelines do exist for IBS, almost 80 percent of physicians surveyed said they do not follow them and less than a fifth said they are even somewhat familiar with current guidelines.

Bridging the Gap between Physicians and Patients
Where there doesn't seem to be confusion among any of the groups surveyed is the overwhelming need for better management of IBS and more education. Most women surveyed see physicians as a primary source for health information, yet almost all doctors (87%) admitted that physicians needed better education about IBS. And despite its prevalence, only one-third of women in the general public without IBS have even heard of IBS.

Technical advisors on this survey include: Lin Chang, MD, Co-Director, UCLA/CURE Neuroenteric Disease Program; Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, Executive Director, Society for Women's Health Research; Margaret Heitkemper, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, Center for Women's Health Research, University of Washington; Nancy J. Norton, President, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders; and Georgia Witkin, PhD, Psychiatry Professor, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. This survey was conducted by Schulman, Ronca and Bucuvalas, Inc. and funded by Glaxo Wellcome. Glaxo Wellcome is a leader in gastrointestinal research programs. The company is committed to fighting disease by bringing innovative medicines and services to patients throughout the world and to the health care providers who serve them.

For a free brochure on IBS from Glaxo Wellcome, consumers can call 1-800-307-7107.