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Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Outpatients Aged up to 12 Months: A French Non-Interventional Study
Florence Campeotto1,2, Marie-Odile Barbaza3, Veronique Hospital4
1Pediatric Gastroenterology Department, Necker-Enfants-malades Hospital (AP-HP), 75015 Paris, France.
Insights
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in French infants. Cow's milk introduction and feeding practices are associated with FGIDs, with adapted formulas and probiotics frequently used in management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are prevalent in infants.
- The ROME IV criteria provide updated definitions for FGIDs.
- Understanding FGID prevalence and management in infants is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the frequency of infant FGIDs using ROME IV criteria in France.
- To describe the clinical characteristics of infants with FGIDs.
- To document the management strategies employed for infant FGIDs in France.
Main Methods:
- A French, non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter study.
- Inclusion of 1722 infants aged up to 12 months.
- Assessment of FGID frequency via ROME IV criteria and physician diagnosis, with comparison of infant characteristics and management.
Main Results:
- High frequencies of FGIDs were observed: regurgitation (41%), colic (18%), constipation (9%), and diarrhea (3%) by ROME IV criteria.
- Infants with FGIDs were less likely to be exclusively breastfed and more likely to have early cow's milk introduction and symptoms of cow's milk protein allergy.
- Management often included adapted infant formulas (77-82%) and specific treatments like probiotics (35-64%).
Conclusions:
- FGIDs are frequent in French infants, aligning with ROME IV criteria.
- Infant feeding practices, particularly cow's milk introduction, are associated with FGID development.
- Current management strategies involve adapted formulas and probiotics, reflecting real-world clinical practice.
Background:
The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in infants aged up to 12 months according to the new ROME IV criteria defining these disorders, and to describe the management of FGIDs in France.
Methods:
This French non-interventional, cross-sectional, and multicenter study was conducted among private-outpatient physicians who each included four consecutive patients aged up to 12 months. The frequency of FGIDs was described using the ROME IV criteria versus clinicians' diagnosis. The characteristics of infants with and without FGID were compared, and the management of the FGIDs was described.
Results:
In the 1722 infants analyzed, the following frequencies were observed according to the ROME IV criteria versus the physicians' diagnosis: regurgitation 41% versus 45%; colic 18% versus 30%; constipation 9% versus 19%; diarrhea 3% versus 8%. Of note, FGID infants were less frequently exclusively breastfeeding at the maternity hospital (p < 0.001), were introduced to cow's milk earlier after leaving the maternity hospital (p < 0.001), and more frequently had symptoms suggestive of cow's milk protein allergy (p < 0.001). Physicians frequently recommended an adapted infant formula (in 77% to 82% of cases depending on the FGID diagnosed) and prescribed a specific treatment in 51% to 66% of infants (probiotics: 35% to 64%).
Conclusions:
This real-world study confirms the high frequency of FGIDs in infants in France, and provides new information regarding the characteristics of FGID infants.
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