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?:abstract
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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are a group of stress‐sensitive gut–brain disorders. The COVID‐19 outbreak has caused immense stress and anxiety among the general public. Strict measures to counter COVID‐19 emergency, including physical distancing, have also taken a toll on physical and mental health. We investigated the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: An online survey was conducted in Japan for a group of randomly assigned panelists from May 26 to 27, 2020. Each respondent answered a questionnaire on stress, physical distancing, and worries about COVID‐19. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed to diagnose FD and IBS (Rome III), and psychological symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: A total of 5157 subjects were finally enrolled, with FD in 8.5%, IBS in 16.6%, and FD–IBS overlap in 4.0%. For both gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms, respondents with FD–IBS overlap showed the worst scores, followed by IBS‐alone, then FD‐alone respondents. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, 11.9% of respondents reported deterioration and 2.8% reported improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms. FD–IBS overlap, psychological disease comorbidity, and stress at work/school were significantly associated with symptom deterioration. Younger age, commuting by public transport, and work/study from home were associated with symptom improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID‐19 pandemic negatively affected FD/IBS subjects, with respondents showing FD–IBS overlap syndrome as the most important independent factor associated with deterioration in gastrointestinal symptoms. Physicians need to take extra care of FD/IBS patients in the post‐COVID period.
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