Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Assessment of Prevalence and Risk Factors in Saudi University Students Using Rome IV Criteria

The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and its associated factors among University students in Saudi Arabia, as little is known about this issue in our country. This cross-sectional study was conducted between 13 March and 21 May of the Academic Year 2017-2018 at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, involving a random sample of 890 students, selected using the stratified multistage method. IBS prevalence was determined using the Rome IV diagnostic Criteria. The overall prevalence of IBS was 8.8%. According to the results of the multivariate logistic regression, the most important independent predictors of IBS were being a student in a medical college (OR = 10.42; 95%CI: 3.45-31.51) and a scientific college (OR = 5.16; 95%CI: 1.64-16.22), cigarettes smoking (OR = 2.74; 95%CI: 1.24-6.07), emotional stress (OR = 2.53; 95%CI: 1.28-5.00), and food intolerance (OR = 2.15; 95%CI: 1.11-4.16). The present study revealed a prevalence rate of 8.8%. The main predictors of IBS were being a medical student, a scientific college student, cigarette smoker, and having emotional stress and food intolerance. No significant association was found between IBS and anxiety and depression.