Irritable bowel syndrome frequency and related factors in hemodialysis patients

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disease that is common in society, does not threaten life, impairs quality of life, and causes serious economic losses. Gastrointestinal system complaints and especially IBS are common in patients with chronic kidney disease. It has also been shown that psychiatric diseases are more common in patients with IBS. In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of IBS in hemodialysis patients and to investigate the factors associated with IBS.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the questionnaire prepared to evaluate depression, anxiety, and abdominal pain was administered face-to-face to 686 patients by the same researcher in seven dialysis centers; 404 patients without exclusion criteria were included in the study. The diagnosis of IBS was made according to Rome IV criteria. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors that are significantly related to IBS.

Findings: In 69 (17.1%) of the patients included in the study, symptoms were consistent with IBS. Binominal logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of age, dialysis duration, diabetes, proton pump inhibitor, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium acetate use, Hamilton depression and anxiety scores associated with IBS in the presence of IBS of the participants. The logistic regression model was statistically significant, χ² (3) = 69.748, P < 0.001. Independent risk factors for IBS in hemodialysis patients were determined as anxiety, long-term dialysis treatment, and using calcium acetate as a phosphorus binder.

Discussion: In hemodialysis patients, IBS occurs approximately twice as often as in a healthy population. Independent risk factors for IBS in hemodialysis patients are anxiety, long-term dialysis treatment, and using calcium acetate as a phosphorus binder.

Keywords: Hemodialysis; anxiety; calcium acetate; depression; irritable bowel syndrome; lanthanum.