• T K Cheung, K F Lam, W H C Hu, C L K Lam, W M Wong, W M Hui, K C Lai, S K Lam, and B C Y Wong.
• Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
• Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2007 May 1; 25 (9): 1099-104.

BackgroundGastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome are common diseases which may be related.AimTo examine the association between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome in Chinese population in Hong Kong.MethodsRandomly selected ethnic Chinese were invited to participate in a telephone survey in 1996. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease was defined as subjects having heartburn and/or acid regurgitation once weekly or more. Irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed according to the Rome I criteria. The association between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome was calculated using a statistical model which allows the odds ratio to be measured.ResultsOne thousand six hundred and forty-nine subjects completed the interview (response rate 62%). The population prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome were 5% and 4%, respectively. Thirteen per cent of subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and 11% with irritable bowel syndrome suffered from both gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The OR of having gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome together was estimated to be 3 (95% CI: 1.05, 6.27) indicating a positive association between the two diseases. This association occurred predominantly in male subjects [OR = 9.3, (95% CI: 2.3, 26.2)] but not as strong in females [OR = 1.5, (95% CI: 0.3, 4.3)]. Younger subjects were statistically more prone to the two diseases.ConclusionsThere is a positive association between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome, and their association occurs predominantly in male subjects.

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