A study collected and presented the thoughts of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation patients at the World Congress of Gastroenterology at ACG2017, Oct. 13 to Oct. 18 in Orlando, Fla.
Eamonn Martin Quigley, MD, a professor of medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital, and colleagues surveyed 1,300-plus IBS-C patients to gauge their experience, attitudes and unmet needs.
Researchers surveyed 1,300-plus patients for the BURDEN IBS-C study — "Better Understanding and Recognition of the Disconnects, Experiences and Needs of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation" study. The study base had a mean age of 46 years, was 73 percent female and 65 percent white.
Here's what they found:
1. Patients most commonly felt frustrated (43 percent), accepting (39 percent), stressed (28 percent) or self-conscious (22 percent) of their IBS-C.
2. Sixty percent of patients described associated symptoms as somewhat to extremely bothersome.
3. Researchers surveyed 331 healthcare professionals. Seventy-six percent of professionals agreed that patients were frustrated and 65 percent agreed patients were stressed. Only 13 percent of healthcare professionals recognized patients as accepting of IBS-C. Forty-eight percent of professionals believed patients were "obsessed with symptoms."
4. IBS-C impacted patient productivity four days a month with absenteeism occurring ~1.5 days a month.
5. IBS-C impacted personal activity three days a month.
6. Approximately 76 percent of patients used a nonprescription IBS-C treatment, with only 9 percent taking prescription treatments.
7. Of patients taking a prescription treatment, 78 percent were not completely satisfied due to lack of efficacy.
8. Patients experienced bloating, abdominal discomfort, hard/lumpy stools and feelings of incomplete evacuation after using prescription treatments. Only 21 percent of providers were satisfied with the treatments.
Researchers concluded, "Patients and HCPs felt current treatments were not sufficient in addressing IBS-C symptomatology. Attitudinal disconnects, namely symptom obsession and disease acceptance, were uncovered regarding the impact and experience of IBS-C."