Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System
Published on: October 22, 2020
Passive Smoking Is Associated with the Risk of Functional Bowel Disorders Among College Freshmen
Jinlu Guo1, Fan Du1, Chaofan Duan1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
Passive smoking increases the risk of functional bowel disorders (FBDs) in college freshmen. This study found a link between passive smoking and constipation symptoms, but not diarrhea, in young adults with FBDs.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Functional bowel disorders (FBDs) significantly impact young adults, yet risk factors remain underexplored.
- Understanding FBDs in college populations is crucial due to their unique lifestyle and environmental exposures.
- Passive smoking is a potential, under-investigated risk factor for FBDs in young adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of FBDs among college freshmen.
- To identify potential risk factors for FBDs in this demographic.
- To specifically investigate the association between passive smoking and FBD risk and symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 3074 college freshmen using validated questionnaires and random cluster sampling.
- Rome IV criteria were employed for the diagnosis of functional bowel disorders.
- Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors, adjusting for various lifestyle and demographic variables.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of FBDs among college freshmen was 7.68% (236 out of 3074 participants).
- Passive smoking showed a significant positive association with the risk of developing FBDs (adjusted OR = 1.825).
- Among FBD patients, passive smokers reported more constipation-related symptoms (hard stool, defecation obstruction) but not diarrhea compared to non-passive smokers.
Conclusions:
- Approximately 7.68% of college freshmen experience functional bowel disorders.
- Passive smoking is a significant risk factor associated with an increased likelihood of FBDs in young adults.
- Passive smoking is linked to constipation symptoms in FBD patients, highlighting a specific symptom association rather than a general effect on all FBD symptoms.
More Related Videos
09:50Impact Assessment of Repeated Exposure of Organotypic 3D Bronchial and Nasal Tissue Culture Models to Whole Cigarette Smoke
Published on: February 12, 2015
09:07Author Spotlight: Development and Characterization of an In Vitro Model to Study Chronic Cigarette Smoke Exposure and Its Impact on Airway Epithelial Cells in COPD Research
Published on: July 12, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Chronic 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...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...