There has been a significant increase in disorders of gut-brain interaction, including irritable bowel syndrome, following the pandemic, a new study has found.
Researchers added to previous studies, analysing data from both 2017 and 2023 to compare, for the first time, prevalence of gut-brain disorders before and after the pandemic.
They found that overall disorders of gut-brain interaction rose from 38.3% to 42.6%.
Other key findings include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rose from 28%, from 4.7% to 6%.
- Functional dyspepsia increased by nearly 44%, from 8.3% to 11.9%.
- People with long COVID were significantly more likely to have a gut-brain interaction disorder and reported worse anxiety, depression, and quality of life.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder affecting the large intestine. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhoea, constipation, or both. While it doesn’t cause permanent damage, the impact on quality of life can be significant.
It is not known exactly what causes IBS, but experts say that contributing factors may include gut-brain axis dysregulation, altered gut motility, intestinal inflammation, changes in gut microbiota, and increased sensitivity to certain foods or stress.
Treatment can include changes to diet, managing stress and medicine to ease symptoms.
Another gut-brain disorder is functional dyspepsia, which affects the upper digestive tract. Symptoms include persistent or regular pain/discomfort in the upper abdomen, feeling full quickly, bloating, and nausea.
- Gut microbiome among people with prediabetes reshaped by pistachio snacking at night
- Fasting triggers changes in the gut and brain that could help delay dementia
- Research links obesity, anxiety and gut health
Specialists believe that altered gastrointestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, psychosocial factors, and possibly low-grade inflammation can contribute to symptoms.
Treatment or management of the condition includes changes to diet and lifestyle, psychological therapies, and medication including proton pump inhibitors, prokinetics, or antidepressants.
