Obesity predicts persistence of pain in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders
1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
Insights
Obesity in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is linked to persistent abdominal pain and greater disability. These findings highlight obesity as a key factor impacting FGID outcomes in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Childhood Obesity Research
- Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs)
Background:
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in children, often presenting with abdominal pain.
- The impact of obesity on the long-term prognosis of pediatric FGIDs remains understudied.
- Obesity may influence the severity and persistence of symptoms in children with FGIDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obesity and the long-term outcome of children diagnosed with abdominal pain-related FGIDs.
- To test the hypothesis that obesity is linked to a poorer prognosis in pediatric FGIDs.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study was conducted in an outpatient pediatric clinic.
- Patients diagnosed with abdominal pain-related FGIDs were followed for 12-15 months.
- Key outcomes included pain persistence, frequency, intensity, school absenteeism, and disruption of daily activities, compared between obese and non-obese children.
Main Results:
- Overall, 20.2% of the pediatric FGID patients were obese.
- Obese children were significantly more likely to experience persistent abdominal pain (P<0.0001), higher pain intensity (P=0.0002), and increased frequency of pain (P=0.0032) at follow-up.
- Obesity was also strongly associated with greater school absenteeism (P<0.0001) and disruption of daily activities (P<0.0001) in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is significantly associated with poor long-term outcomes and increased disability in children suffering from abdominal pain-related FGIDs.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering obesity in the management and prognostic assessment of pediatric FGIDs.
- The study highlights novel insights with potential implications for clinical practice and treatment strategies for FGIDs in children.
Objective:
The possible effect of obesity in the outcome of treated children with abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) has not yet been studied. We hypothesized that obesity is associated with a poor long-term prognosis in children with FGIDs.
Study Design:
Prospective cohort study in an outpatient clinic-based sample of patients diagnosed with abdominal pain-related FGIDs. Principal outcome measured was persistence of pain at long-term follow-up (12-15 months). Frequency of pain, intensity of pain, school absenteeism and disruption of daily activities were compared between obese and non-obese subjects.
Results:
The group mean age was 13.27±3.84 years, distribution of diagnosis was 32% (functional abdominal pain), 42.5% (irritable bowel syndrome) and 25.5% (functional dyspepsia). Overall, 20.2% of patients were obese. A total of 116 patients (61.7%) reported abdominal pain and 72 (38.3%) were asymptomatic at long-term follow-up. Obese patients were more likely to have abdominal pain (P<0.0001), higher intensity of pain (P=0.0002), higher frequency of pain (P=0.0032), school absenteeism (P<0.0001) and disruption of daily activities (P<0.0001) at follow-up than non-obese patients.
Conclusion:
Obesity is associated with poor outcome and disability at long-term follow-up in children with abdominal pain-related FGIDs. Our novel findings could have important implications in the prognosis and management of FGIDs.
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