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DOMINO trial post hoc analysis: evaluation of the diet effects on symptoms in IBS subtypes
Claudia Di Rosa1, Karen Van den Houte2, Annamaria Altomare1
1Campus Bio-Medico University, Roma, Italy.
Background:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by recurrent abdominal pain related to defecation and/or associated to a change in bowel habits. According to the stool type, four different IBS subtypes can be recognized, constipation predominant (IBS-C), diarrhea predominant (IBS-D), mixed (IBS-M), and undefined (IBS-U). Patients report that their IBS symptoms are exacerbated by food. Thus, it is important to find a nutritional approach that could be effective in reducing IBS symptoms.
Objective:
The present work is a post hoc analysis of the previously published DOMINO trial. It aimed to evaluate the effects of a self-instructed FODMAP-lowering diet smartphone application on symptoms and psychosocial aspects in primary care IBS stratifying the results for each IBS subtypes.
Design:
Post hoc analysis.
Methods:
Two hundred twenty-two primary care IBS patients followed a FODMAP-lowering diet for 8 weeks with the support of a smartphone application. Two follow-up visits were scheduled after 16 and 24 weeks. IBS-Symptoms Severity Score (IBS-SSS), quality of life (QoL), and adherence and dietary satisfaction were evaluated.
Results:
After 8 weeks, IBS-SSS improved in all IBS subtypes (p < 0.0001). Physician Health Questiionnaire (PHQ-15) improved only in IBS-D (p = 0.0006), whereas QoL improved both in IBS-D (p = 0.01) and IBS-M (p = 0.005).
Conclusion:
This post hoc analysis showed that the app is useful in all IBS subtypes; thus, it could be used as an effective tool by both general practitioners and patients to manage symptoms in primary care.
Trial Registration:
Ethical Commission University Hospital of Leuven reference number: S59482. Clinicaltrial.gov reference number: NCT04270487.
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