Novel Classification of IBS Patients in a Secondary Care Setting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Classification and Longitudinal Follow-up of Subgroups of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Based on Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Extra-intestinal Symptoms and Psychological Profiles.
IRAS ID
290999
Contact name
Jean Uniake
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common tummy condition. The symptoms used to diagnose IBS are called the Rome criteria. The latest version of these criteria is called Rome IV. These recommend that individuals with IBS are subgrouped based on how soft or hard their stools are. This allows doctors to give the most appropriate treatment according to stool type. It also allows researchers to test whether new medications are effective in the different groups.
Although several possible causes for IBS have been proposed, its precise cause remains unknown. However, it is well recognised that mood plays an important role. The Rome foundation recognise this, but did not include assessment of mood in the Rome IV criteria.
We have previously identified new subgroups in IBS from a large group of individuals in the community. We used a model incorporating mood, as well as stool form, to classify individuals with IBS into seven distinct subgroups. These subgroups may better identify the most important symptoms to treat, rather than just focusing on stool form alone. However, this model has not been tested in patients seen in Gastroenterology clinics who tend to have more severe symptoms.
The aim of this research project is to classify patients with IBS in Gastroenterology clinics using this model and follow them up. This will allow us to better understand whether these seven subgroups predict their current needs in terms of medications, use of psychological therapy, quality of life, and course of their disease. We aim to contact these patients 1 year later to see if they are still in the same subgroup.
We will use an online questionnaire to collect information from people attending their first hospital appointment with suspected IBS and seek permission to access their hospital medical records.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0147
Date of REC Opinion
27 May 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion