PEPTIC-ULCER, NONULCER DYSPEPSIA AND IRRITABLE-BOWEL-SYNDROME IN THE NETHERLANDS AND JAPAN

To study the prevalence of peptic ulcer, non-ulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the Dutch and Japanese working population, a structured history using a questionnaire on gastrointestinal symptoms during the preceding 3 months was obtained from persons undergoing a periodic medical examination. Principal components factor analysis of questionnaire responses was conducted to examine interrelationships of symptoms. In Holland, 427 men and 73 women participated (mean age 48.0 years), while in Japan 196 men and 35 women took part (mean age 48.8 years). In both the Japanese and the Dutch population, factor analysis yielded clusters of symptoms consistent with previously defined clinical syndromes: dyspepsia, diarrhoea-predominant IBS and constipation-predominant IBS. The prevalences of verified peptic ulcer history were 19% and 17% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 14-26% and 7-34%) in Japanese men and women in contrast to 5% and 0% (95% CI: 3-8% and 0-5%) in Dutch men and women respectively. The ratio of duodenal to gastric ulcer was 4.5:1 in Holland and 1.5:1 in Japan. The 3-month period prevalence of non-ulcer dyspepsia was 13% in both the Japanese and the Dutch population and was twice as high in women as in men (p < 0.01). There was considerable overlap between dyspepsia subgroups. IBS was present in 25% of the Japanese and in 9% of the Dutch (p < 0.001) and occurred twice as often in women as in men (p < 0.01). In conclusion, factor analysis supported the existence of dyspepsia and IBS as distinct syndromes in both countries. The prevalence of peptic ulcer history is about four times higher and IBS almost three times higher among the Japanese than among the Dutch working population, whereas the prevalence of non-ulcer dyspepsia is similar.