2025 Seoul Consensus on Clinical Practice Guidelines for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder impacting quality of life and increasing healthcare costs.
• Previous clinical practice guidelines for IBS management were published in 2017.
• New evidence necessitates a revision of existing guidelines to incorporate updated knowledge on IBS pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revise and update the clinical practice guidelines for the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in adults.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of IBS.
• To serve as a reference for clinicians and patients in making informed decisions about IBS management.

Main Methods:

• Guidelines were developed using a combination of de novo and adaptation methods.
• Analysis of existing guidelines and committee discussions identified key clinical questions.
• The modified Delphi method was employed to achieve expert consensus on core recommendations.

Main Results:

• The revised guidelines include 22 recommendations covering IBS definition, risk factors, diagnostic modalities, general management, and medical treatment.
• Detailed advantages, disadvantages, and precautions are provided for each recommendation.
• The guidelines are intended for adults diagnosed with or suspected of having IBS.

Conclusions:

• The updated guidelines offer comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for IBS management.
• These guidelines aim to standardize and improve the care of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Clinicians and patients can utilize these guidelines to facilitate informed decision-making in IBS treatment.