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Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction in a Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Cohort
Jemilla Strode Smith1, Michael J Coffey1,2, Adam Jaffe1,3
1School of Clinical Medicine, Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, UNSW Medicine & Health, Sydney, Australia.
Insights
Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are more likely to experience functional abdominal pain and disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) than their peers. Routine screening for DGBI in pediatric CF cohorts may be beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Cystic Fibrosis research
- Gut-brain interaction studies
Background:
- Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), including irritable bowel syndrome, are more prevalent in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) than the general population.
- DGBI are linked to reduced quality of life and increased healthcare costs.
- This study investigated the prevalence of DGBI in children with CF (cwCF) compared to non-CF controls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of children with CF experiencing DGBI.
- To compare the prevalence of DGBI in cwCF versus non-CF controls.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized validated ROME IV surveys to assess DGBI in children aged 0-18 years.
- Participants included 44 children with CF recruited from Sydney Children's Hospital and 48 non-CF controls.
- Data was collected as part of the EARTH observational study between 2018 and 2022.
Main Results:
- Symptoms of at least one DGBI were significantly more frequent in cwCF (36.36%) compared to non-CF controls (10.42%; p=0.01).
- Functional abdominal pain was more prevalent in cwCF (13.79%) than in non-CF controls (0%; p=0.02).
- No significant differences were found in the prevalence of other specific DGBI between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Children with CF are significantly more likely to experience functional abdominal pain and DGBI collectively than non-CF children.
- Further large-scale research is necessary to confirm these findings.
- The potential role of routine DGBI screening in pediatric CF populations warrants further investigation.
Introduction:
Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), such as irritable bowel syndrome, occur at a higher prevalence in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), compared to the general population. DGBI are associated with impaired quality of life and significant health-system costs. This study aimed to assess the proportion of cwCF with DGBI, compared to non-CF controls.
Methods:
Validated for the assessment of DGBI, ROME IV surveys were distributed to cwCF and non-CF controls aged 0-18 years as part of the Evaluating the Alimentary Tracts in Health and Disease (EARTH) observational study. CF participants were recruited from the Sydney Children's Hospital (SCH) CF outpatient clinic between 2018 and 2022. Non-CF controls were recruited from outpatient clinics, advertisements, and word-of-mouth.
Results:
Forty-four cwCF (female = 22 [50%], median [IQR] age = 7.04 [2.25-11.06] years) and 48 non-CF controls (female = 22 [45.83%], median (IQR) age = 8.04 [3.57-12.77] years) completed baseline surveys. Symptoms consistent with at least one DGBI were observed more frequently in cwCF compared to non-CF controls (36.36% vs. 10.42%%, p = 0.01). Functional abdominal pain was experienced at a higher prevalence in cwCF compared to non-CF controls (13.79% vs. 0%, p = 0.02). No significant differences in the prevalence of other specific disorders were observed between cwCF and non-CF controls.
Conclusion:
Compared to non-CF, cwCF were significantly more likely to experience functional abdominal pain, and at least one DGBI collectively. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate our findings and ascertain the role of routine screening of DGBI in pediatric CF cohorts.
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