Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data
Published on: June 26, 2013
Data Mining Approach for the Characterization of Functional Bowel Disorders According to Symptom Intensity Provides a
Michel Bouchoucha1,2, Ghislain Devroede3, Marinos Fysekidis4
1Université Paris V René Descartes 15, Rue de l'école de médecine, Paris, France, michel.bouchoucha@avc.aphp.fr.
Background/Aims:
The aim of the present study is to evaluate if the intensity of the cardinal symptoms of functional bowel disorders could be used to identify homogenous groups of patients defined by the Rome criteria.
Method:
In this observational study, 1,729 consecutive outpatients (73% females) filled out the Rome III questionnaire and 10-point Likert scales for constipation, diarrhea, bloating (BL)/distension, abdominal pain (AP) during the week before the medical consultation. A Gaussian mixture model was used for clustering the patients according to the intensity of symptoms without a priori information, and a classification tree was constructed from this clustering. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and logistic regression analysis.
Results:
According to the intensity of symptoms, the patients are divided into 8 groups named according to their main symptomatology: "painful constipation" (PFC), "mild pain constipation" (MPC), "painful diarrhea" (PFD), "mild pain diarrhea" (MPD), "mixed transit" (MT), "BL," "AP," and "nonspecific" (NS). The study of the relationship between the Rome III classification and this new grouping shows that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-constipation is associated with PFC, IBS-diarrhea with PFD and MPD, SII-mixed with MT, SII-unspecified with BL, functional constipation with PFC and MPC, functional diarrhea with MPD and NS, BL with "BL" and NS, nonspecific functional bowel disorders (FBD) with NS, and functional AP with "BL" and AP (p < 0.01 for all associations).
Conclusion:
A symptom intensity-based classification of FBD patients could simplify clinical phenotype, give homogeneous groups of patients, and could eventually be used by nongastroenterologists and in clinical research.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:17Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data
Health History
The initial step in assessing the GI system is obtaining a comprehensive health history. This includes inquiring about the patient's history or presence of problems...
01:29Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
01:25Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...