Functional Bowel Disorders: A Retrospective Descriptive Study in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction  Functional bowel disorders (FBDs) are common pathologies worldwide. However, little is known about the subject in our region. Thus, we undertook a cross-sectional study to address the issue in our population. Methodology We conducted a retrospective descriptive study from January 2016 to December 2022 using data from 2,831 outpatients seen in the hepatogastroenterology department of Idrissa Pouye General Hospital in Dakar. All cases consistent with an FBD according to the Rome IV criteria were included. We collected and analyzed epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary data. Results We included 397 of 2,831 patients (14.02%), with a mean age of 43.23 years and a sex ratio of 0.91. Symptoms were dominated by abdominal pain, which was present in 273 cases (68.8%). The constipation-predominant subtype of irritable bowel syndrome was the most common, found in 273 cases (32.2%). Dyspepsia was the most frequent associated symptom, reported in 102 cases (25.7%). The mean duration of disease at diagnosis was 5.72 years. Anxiety was associated in 11 cases (2.77%), and physical examination findings were normal in 296 cases (74.6%). Additional investigations were performed in 230 patients (57.9%). Treatment was mainly based on antispasmodics, prescribed in 236 cases (59.45%), and defoaming agents, prescribed in 303 cases (76.32%). Clinical evolution was marked by an improvement in symptoms in 183 cases (46%). Conclusions In our cohort, FBD mainly affected young adults, with a female predominance. Abdominal pain was the most common manifestation. Treatment was symptomatic, based on defoaming agents and antispasmodics, and a favorable outcome was observed in nearly half of the patients.