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Resumen Los trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales (TGF) son enfermedades crónicas que configuran un problema relevante en la salud pública, asociados en investigaciones previas a una peor calidad de vida. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar la calidad de vida en pacientes que acuden a un servicio de neurogastroenterología en un hospital de Argentina y compararlo con población control. Para ello, se realizó un estudio cuantitativo y transversal incluyendo población clínica diagnosticada con algún TGF (n = 35) y una muestra control sin diagnóstico de TGF (n = 37). Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre personas con TGF y sujetos control, X 2 (1, N = 70) = 30.23,p < .001 en todas las subdimensiones de la escala de calidad de vida (MQLI), exceptuando satisfacción espiritual (PE). Similar a investigaciones previas, los resultados de este estudio sugieren que, en Argentina -al igual que en otros países-, los individuos con TGF muestran una peor percepción de calidad de vida que la población general. Estos hallazgos podrían contribuir al diseño de intervenciones que contemplen variables biopsicosociales, con el objetivo de una mejoría integral en la calidad de vida de las personas que padecen estos trastornos.

Abstract Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGDS) are chronic diseases that constitute a relevant public health problem, associated in previous research with a poorer quality of life. The aim of this study was to study the quality of life in patients attending a Neurogastroenterology Service at an Argentinean public hospital and compare it with a control population. A quantitative and cross-sectional study was carried out including a clinical population diagnosed with some FGD (n = 35) and a control sample without diagnosis of FGD (n = 37). Significant differences were found between people with FGD and control subjects, X 2 (1, N = 70) = 30.23, p < .001 in all sub-dimensions of the Quality of Life Index (MQLI), except Spiritual Fulfillment (SF). Similar to previous research, the results of this study suggest that individuals with FGD show a worse perception of quality of life than the general population. These findings could contribute to the design of interventions that contemplate biopsychosocial variables, with the aim of a comprehensive improvement in the quality of life of people with these disorders.

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INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Any alarm symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should be carefully evaluated. Colonoscopy is a standard diagnostic procedure for evaluating the colonic mucosa and ruling out probable diseases responsible for patient symptoms. We analyzed the colonoscopy findings in patients with and without IBS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with IBS and 101 without IBS were consecutively enrolled in the study. All the patients in the IBS group met the Rome IV criteria, and underwent colonoscopy due to the appearance of red flags. The colonoscopy findings were compared between the 2 groups of patients. RESULTS: The main indications for colonoscopy in the IBS group were progressive abdominal pain (36.7%), rectal bleeding with fresh blood (17.7%), and occult blood in stool (12.5%). In the non-IBS group, the most prevalent indicators were rectal bleeding with fresh blood (37.6%), colorectal cancer surveillance (21.8%), and abdominal pain (13.9%). The most common macroscopic findings in the 2 groups were hemorrhoids, polyps, and anal fissure. There were no statistically significant differences with respect to the microscopic and macroscopic findings between groups. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the prevalence of organic lesions in the colon of patients with IBS was the same as that in the patients without IBS. The Rome IV criteria accurately predicted IBS. Additional evaluation through colonoscopy in IBS should be based on the presence of alarm features.

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INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are complex illnesses characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, with no underlying organic pathology. They are common, chronic, recurrent, and disabling disorders that significantly impair quality of life (QoL). The aim of the present cross-sectional analytical study was to assess QoL and its correlates in adult patients with FGIDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational, hospital-based study was conducted at the gastroenterology outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. The ROME IV diagnostic criteria were used to identify the FGIDs. Anxiety, depression, coping strategies, social support, and QoL were assessed by the hospital anxiety and depression scale, the coping strategies inventory, the multidimensional scale of perceived social support, and the functional digestive disorders quality-of-life questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 52 consecutive patients diagnosed with FGIDs, functional dyspepsia (51.92%) and irritable bowel syndrome (40.38%) were the most common. There were no significant associations between sociodemographic variables (age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic status, educational level, employment, occupation, dietary pattern) and QoL scores (all p values >0.05). Duration and social support were not significantly associated with QoL (all p values >0.05). In contrast, psychological variables, such as disengagement coping (r=-0.344, p=0.012), depression (r=-0.600, p=0.000), and anxiety (r=-0.590, p=0.000), were significantly correlated with QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Despite advances in neurogastroenterology, patients continue to be disabled by FGIDs. Psychological factors, especially depression, significantly contribute to poor QoL in those patients and should be addressed in a holistic, multidisciplinary way. The biopsychosocial framework, as it applies to FGIDs, should lead to the inclusion of psychosocial assessments in the clinical management and research of those disorders.

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Introducción: los trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales son un conjunto de síntomas crónicos o recurrentes sin causa estructural, bioquímica o metabólica explicable. Constituyen un motivo de consulta con una frecuencia variable o descono- cida. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales en lactantes en una consulta gas- troenterológica. Pacientes y método: estudio prospectivo y transversal, entre enero 2012 y marzo 2013. Se registró la presencia de los síntomas correspondientes a regurgitación, cólicos y disquecia del lactante, utilizando los criterios de Roma III, a través de un cuestionario a las madres de los lactantes evaluados. Se excluyeron los niños con patologías asociadas. Resultados: 1.197 lactantes, 104 con los trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales investigados, una prevalencia de 8,68% e identificación de 1 por cada 10 lactantes (OR=10,15). Edad promedio: 4,4 meses (rango:1-19), afectación similar en cuanto al sexo, varones 55 (52,88%) y hembras 49 (47,12%). La regurgitación del lactante fue el trastorno más frecuente en 95/104 niños (91,34%), disquecia 31/104 (29,80%) y cólico 9/104 (8,65%). Se encontró la presencia de más de un trastorno en 30 niños, la regurgitación y disquecia presente en 21, regurgitación y cólico en 5, disquecia y cólico en 3. Un paciente presentó todos los trastornos. Conclusiones: Los trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales del lactante son prevalentes en la consulta gastroenterológica, su determinación es de utilidad en la planificación de la atención médica para su diagnóstico y seguimiento.

Introduction: functional gastrointestinal disorders are a set of chronic or recurrent symptoms without structural, biochemi- cal or metabolic cause explicable. They are a matter of consultation with a variable or unknown frequency. Objective: To determine the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in infants in a gastroenterological consultation. Patients and methods: a prospective crosssectional study between January 2012 and March 2013. The presence of symptoms related to regurgitation, colic and infant dyschezia using the Rome III criteria through a questionnaire to mothers of was recorded, infants evaluated. We excluded children with as- sociated pathologies. Results: 1,197 infants, 104 investiga- ted with functional gastrointestinal disorders, a prevalence of 8.68% and identification of 1 in 10 infants (OR = 10.15). Average age: 4.4 months (range: 1-19), similar in terms of sex affectation, males 55 (52.88%) and 49 females (47.12%). Infant regurgitation was the most common disorder in children 95/104 (91.34%), dyschezia 31/104 (29.80%) and colic 9/104 (8.65%). The presence of more than one disorder was found in 30 children, regurgitation and dyschezia present in 21, regurgitation and colic in 5 dyschezia and colic in 3. One patient had all disorders. Conclusions: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are prevalent in infant gastroenterological consultation, its determination is useful in planning health care for diagnosis and monitoring.