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Press Release

Asthma and food allergies during childhood associated with increased risk of IBS, new research finds

October 12, 2020

(Vienna, October 12, 2020) Asthma and food hypersensitivity at age 12 is associated with an increased risk of having irritable bowel syndrome at 16, a new study presented today at UEG Week Virtual 2020 has found.

The research, conducted at the University of Gothenburg and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, analysed the health of 2,770 children from birth to the age of 16. Those with IBS at 16 were almost twice as likely to have had asthma at the age of 12 (11.2% vs 6.7%). Almost half of children with IBS at 16 (40.7%) reported food hypersensitivity at 12 years (compared to 29.2% of children without IBS at 16).

The research also showed that asthma, food hypersensitivity and eczema were all associated with an increased risk of concurrent IBS at 16 years.

The population-based cohort study was led by Dr Jessica Sjölund from the Institute of Medicine at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. “The associations found in this large study suggest there’s a shared pathophysiology between common allergy-related diseases and adolescent irritable bowel syndrome”, she explained. “We knew that allergy and immune dysregulation had been suggested to play a role in the development of irritable bowel syndrome, but previous studies on allergy-related diseases and irritable bowel syndrome are contradictory”.

“This knowledge could open up for developing new treatment methods for adolescent IBS, targeting processes of low grade inflammation seen in these allergy-related diseases.”

During the study, children and parents were asked to complete questionnaires regarding asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and food hypersensitivity at ages 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 years. At 16, children answered questions based on the Rome III Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms, allowing participants to be categorised into IBS, functional abdominal pain and function dyspepsia groups.

IBS affects more than one in ten people and is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. It can be extremely disabling for patients, with abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhoea or constipation. There are often difficulties in diagnosing functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, and just one in three people with symptoms of IBS or constipation consult a healthcare professional.

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  • Notes to Editors
  • References
Notes to Editors

For further information, or to arrange an interview with Professor Luigi Ricciardiello, please contact Luke Paskins on +44 (0)1444 811099 or [email protected]

We kindly ask that a reference to UEG is included when communicating any information within this press release.

About Dr Jessica Sjölund

Dr Jessica Sjölund is from the Institute of Medicine at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

About UEG

UEG, or United European Gastroenterology, is a professional non-profit organisation combining all the leading European medical specialist and national societies focusing on digestive health. Our member societies represent more than 30,000 specialists from every field of gastroenterology. Together, we provide services for all healthcare professionals and researchers, in the broad area of digestive health. The role of UEG is to take concerted efforts to learn more about digestive disease by prevention, research, diagnosis, cure and raising awareness of their importance. To advance the standards of gastroenterological care and knowledge across the world and to reduce the burden of digestive diseases,

UEG offers numerous activities and initiatives, including:

  • UEG Week: Organising the best international multidisciplinary gastroenterology congress in the world.
  • UEG Research: Supporting cooperation and excellence in digestive health research.
  • UEG Journal: Delivering clinical information for digestive health with authority.
  • UEG Education: Providing learning opportunities in multiple formats.
  • Quality of Care: Improving clinical practice to reduce health inequalities across Europe.
  • Public Affairs: Acting as the united voice of European Gastroenterology towards the public and policy makers.

Find out more about UEG’s work by visiting www.ueg.eu or contact:

Luke Paskins on +44 (0)1444 811099 or [email protected]

References
  1. Sjölund J. 2020. ALLERGY-RELATED DISEASES DURING CHILDHOOD AND RISK OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME AT 16 YEARS: A SWEDISH BIRTH COHORT STUDY. Presented at UEG Week Virtual 2020.
  2. Clinical Epidemiology. 2014. The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921083/
  3. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2011. Epidemiology and burden of chronic constipation. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3206560/

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