Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients at Elevated Risk for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A connection between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and somatic disorders, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, has been revealed by researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a gastrointestinal disorder impacting up to 15 percent of the population, leads to symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. A comprehensive study analyzing over 1.2 million hospitalizations of IBS patients across 4,000 U.S. hospitals over three years has revealed a notable association. Individuals with IBS were found to be five times more likely to experience fibromyalgia, a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder, compared to the general adult population without IBS. Additionally, those with IBS had significantly elevated chances of also having chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition characterized by severe fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and sleep disturbances, when compared to the population without IBS.

“Because IBS patients have higher prevalence of somatic comorbidities such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, identifying and treating these disorders can improve their quality of life,” said lead researcher Zahid Ijaz Tarar, MD, a fellow in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. “Earlier identification of comorbidities is valuable to inform treatment strategies, including consulting other specialties such as rheumatology and psychiatry to improve the overall health outcomes in IBS patients.”

These discoveries extend the existing body of research that identified a connection between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

The increased prevalence of these physical conditions subsequent to IBS, triggered by gastrointestinal infections and the consequent administration of antibiotics, has led researchers to hypothesize that an imbalance in gut bacteria and a permeable gut, allowing toxins to enter the bloodstream, may contribute to their emergence.

“This is yet another example where ailments in the gut are linked to ailments elsewhere in the body and mind,” said senior author Yezaz Ghouri, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine and gastroenterology. “As we continue to learn more about how gut health effects health elsewhere, it is important that clinicians look for and manage somatic comorbidities in IBS patients.”

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