Epidemiology of disorders of gut-brain interaction in Belgium and differences between two language groups: Results...

The Rome Foundation carried out a worldwide epidemiology study on DGBI according to the Rome IV criteria in 33 countries, including Belgium. DGBI prevalence varied between continents and countries, but prevalence differences within language groups in a single country have not yet been described.

We analyzed the prevalence rates of 18 DGBI and their psychosocial impact in Belgium in the French and Dutch language groups.

DGBI prevalence was similar in the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking population. Having one or more DGBI was negatively associated with psychosocial well-being. The scores for depression were lower in the Dutch-speaking participants with one or more DGBI compared to the French-speaking participants. Interestingly, we also found significantly lower scores in the general Dutch-speaking versus the French-speaking population for depression and non-gastrointesinal somatic symptoms, and higher global physical health and mental health quality-of-life component scores. In the Dutch-speaking group, medication use for gastric acid was lower, but use of prescribed analgesics was more common. Nevertheless, the use of non-prescribed pain medication was higher in the French-speaking group. Anxiety and sleep medication use was also higher in the latter group.

The results of this first in-depth analysis of Rome IV DGBI in Belgium show a higher prevalence for some DGBI in the French-speaking cohort, and a larger associated disease burden. These differences between language/culture groups in the same country support the psychosocial pathophysiological model of DGBI.