Symptom burden and consulting behavior in patients with overlapping functional disorders in the US population

Regulatory and treatment guidelines focus on individual conditions, yet clinicians often see patients with overlapping conditions.

This cross-sectional survey study assesses the impact of overlapping functional dyspepsia (FD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) on symptom burden and consulting behavior.

Survey participants met Rome III criteria for FD, IBS-C, and/or CIC, and/or reported GERD; participants answered questions about symptom frequency and bothersomeness, work and productivity, and consulting behavior.

Of 2641 respondents, 1592 (60.3%) had one condition; 832 (31.5%) had two; and 217 (8.2%) had three; 57.3% of 1690 FD, 54.6% of 1337 GERD, 82.6% of 328 IBS-C, and 62.5% of 552 CIC respondents had condition overlap. Overall GI symptoms were very/extremely bothersome in 28.6% of single-condition respondents, 50.7% of two-condition, and 69.6% of three-condition respondents (p < 0.001, chi square). Symptom frequency and productivity losses both increased with condition overlap. Over 12 months, 43.7% of single-condition, 49.9% of two-condition, and 66.5% of three-condition respondents consulted a physician about GI symptoms (p < 0.001, chi square).

Functional GI disorders frequently overlap with each other and with GERD. Condition overlap is associated with greater symptom burden and increased physician consultations.