Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among medical and non-medical students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical and non-medical students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that included demographic data, risk factors, Rome IV criteria to diagnose IBS, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to assess stress levels and their association with IBS development.
Results: Out of 710 participants, 522 met the inclusion criteria. Among the participants, 224 (42.9%) were medical students, while non-medical students accounted for 298 (57.1%) of the participants. The prevalence of IBS was 15.6% (n = 35) among medical students and 25.8% (n = 77) among non-medical students. Significant associations with IBS were found for female gender (p-value = 0.000), marital status (p-value = 0.001), family history of IBS (p-value = 0.007), and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (p-value = 0.010). Additionally, both mild and severe stress levels as well as sleeping for 8 hours or more, were significantly associated with IBS.
Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of IBS among undergraduate students, particularly among non-medical students. Key risk factors identified include female gender, mild and high stress levels, being married, positive family history, NSAID use, and sleeping for 8 hours or more.
Key words: Irritable bowel syndrome, university students, risk factors, medical students, Saudi Arabia
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