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Scientific Frontline: "At a Glance" Summary
- Main Discovery: Two-thirds of adolescents diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) recover by young adulthood, demonstrating that the condition is dynamic rather than static in nature.
- Methodology: Researchers analyzed longitudinal data from the BAMSE Swedish birth cohort, prospectively following 2,539 individuals born in the 1990s with clinical symptom assessments conducted at ages 16 and 24.
- Key Data: Approximately 66% of 16-year-olds with IBS no longer met the clinical criteria by age 24, though an initial diagnosis at 16 remained the single strongest predictor for adult IBS.
- Significance: The study identifies critical modifiable risk factors for disease persistence, specifically psychological stress, sleep deficiency, and perceived poor health, which directly influence prognosis.
- Future Application: Clinical interventions targeting mental well-being, sleep hygiene, and lifestyle adjustments during adolescence can be deployed to significantly reduce the risk of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in adulthood.
- Branch of Science: Gastroenterology and Pediatrics
- Additional Detail: A parental history of IBS was identified as a major non-modifiable risk factor for the condition persisting from adolescence into young adulthood.
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| Jessica Sjölund and Magnus Simrén, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Ola Olén, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and Södersjukhuset. Photo Credits: Malin Arnesson, Johan Wingborg, Rickard Kilström |
Two out of three adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) start adulthood without the disease, according to a long-term study that followed more than 2,500 individuals. The researchers also note that several factors in adolescence which increase the risk of adult IBS can be influenced.
The symptoms of IBS often include long-term abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, and gas. Although factors at an early age are thought to play a role in the development of the disease, research within this area is limited – particularly in relation to the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
The current study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, was based on the BAMSE Swedish population study at Karolinska Institutet and followed 2,539 individuals born in the 1990s. All had been reported at the ages of 16 and 24 for possible IBS symptoms in accordance with an internationally established assessment model.
IBS not a static condition
The study from the University of Gothenburg and Karolinska Institutet shows that the strongest risk factor for IBS at the age of 24 was having the disease at 16. At the same time, the prognosis was relatively good. Two out of three 16-year-olds with IBS no longer met the criteria by the age of 24.
“Our results show that IBS in adolescence is not a static condition,” says Jessica Sjölund, a research physician in gastroenterology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. “For many, symptoms improve over time, and at the same time we can now better identify those at a greater risk of persistent problems.”
As well as IBS in adolescence, several additional factors that increased the risk of IBS at the age of 24 were also identified, including recurrent abdominal pain, psychological stress, poorer self-rated health, lack of sleep, and food hypersensitivities. A strong risk factor for IBS at the age of 16 to remain at the age of 24 was IBS in at least one parent.
Early interventions
“The link between generations suggests that both genetic factors and shared environmental and behavioral patterns play a role,” adds Ola Olén, a consultant in pediatric gastroenterology and an adjunct professor at Karolinska Institutet. “It also brings opportunities for preventive strategies aimed at families where IBS is already present.”
The researchers behind the study emphasize that the results are clinically relevant, precisely because several of the identified risk factors have the potential to be influenced. Magnus Simrén is a consultant and a professor of gastroenterology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
“Early interventions during adolescence related to sleep, mental wellbeing, and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as interventions aimed at families with clustering of IBS, could reduce the risk of long-term symptoms later in life,” he explains.
Published in journal: Gastroenterology (pre-press)
Authors: Jessica Sjölund, Jóhann P. Hreinsson, Anna Bergström, Hans Törnblom, Magnus Simrén, and Ola Olén
Source/Credit: University of Gothenburg
Reference Number: med020226_01
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