Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Prevalence and Risk Factors in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Background The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) worldwide remains heterogeneous. In Saudi Arabia, there are insufficient studies on the prevalence of IBS among the general population, yet the prevalence of IBS in certain professional groups has been reported. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of IBS and its associated risk factors in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia. Methods An online cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia, using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. The data were collected using a web-based validated Rome IV questionnaire. The Rome IV criteria are used to diagnose functional gut disorders, including IBS. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the selected risk factors. Results The survey included 1554 participants with an overall IBS prevalence of 16%. Women had a higher incidence of IBS than men (55.3% and 44.7%, respectively). IBS-mixed (32.66%) and constipation-predominant (32.25%) were the most common subtypes. In multiple regression analysis, female gender (OR = 1.503, p-value = 0.037), stress (OR = 2.386, p-value = 0.000), anxiety (OR = 1.943, p-value = 0.000), and tobacco smoking (OR = 2.093, p-value = 0.001) showed a statistically significant association with IBS. Conclusions The prevalence of IBS in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia is high. Female sex, tobacco smoking, stress, and anxiety are the major risk factors associated with IBS.