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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #354672
Title: Prevalence of pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders utilizing the rome IV criteria

Author
item ROBIN, SAMANTHA
item KELLER, CATHERINE
item ZWIENER, RUSSELL
item HYMAN, PAUL
item NURKO, SAMUEL - BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
item SAPS, MIGUEL - BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
item DI LORENZO, CARLO - BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
item SHULMAN, ROBERT
item HYAMS, JEFFREY
item PALSSON, OLAFUR
item VAN TILBURG, MIRANDA

Submitted to: Journal of Pediatrics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2017
Publication Date: 5/25/2018
Citation: Robin, S.G., Keller, C., Zwiener, R., Hyman, P.E., Nurko, S., Saps, M., Di Lorenzo, C., Shulman, R.J., Hyams, J.S., Palsson, O., Van Tilburg, M.A. 2018. Prevalence of pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders utilizing the rome IV criteria. Journal of Pediatrics. 195:134-139.

Interpretive Summary: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are those in which the symptoms and causes cannot be easily explained by routine testing. They include such common conditions as constipation, regurgitation, and chronic belly pain. The criteria used to make a diagnosis of these disorders are based upon recommendations from a team of experts – the Pediatric Rome Committee. Recently, the Committee updated the diagnostic criteria. The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of these disorders in the US based on the new criteria. From a survey of 1255 mothers of children, it was found that 25% of infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents met the criteria for a functional gastrointestinal disorder. The most common functional GI disorders were infant regurgitation and functional constipation among both toddlers and children and adolescents. The quality of life was diminished in this population compared with those without a functional gastrointestinal disorder.

Technical Abstract: To assess the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in children 0-18 years old according to the newly established Rome IV diagnostic criteria as reported by parents in a representative community sample. A cross-sectional study in which mothers (n=1255) of children aged 0-18 years old in the US were recruited to complete an online survey about their child's GI symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and other health conditions. Based on the Rome IV criteria, 24.7% of infants and toddlers aged 0-3 years and 25.0% of children and adolescents aged 4-18 years fulfilled symptom-based criteria for a functional GI disorder. The most common functional GI disorders were infant regurgitation among infants (24.1%) and functional constipation among both toddlers (18.5%) and children and adolescents (14.1%). QoL was diminished in pediatric patients with functional GI disorders (median=71.69 vs median=87.60; z=-11.41; P <.001). Children were more likely to qualify for a functional GI disorder if their parent qualified for a functional GI disorder (35.4% vs 23.0%; P<.001). Based on Rome IV criteria, functional GI disorders are common in pediatric populations of all ages and are associated with decreased QoL.