- Design
- Population-based internet survey with Rome V diagnostic questionnaire
- Population
- 28,771 adults in 15 countries
- Primary outcome
- Prevalence of disorders of gut–brain interaction
- Effect
- At least one DGBI 40.9% (Rome IV 40.5%); IBS 8.5%; functional dyspepsia 8.1%
The Rome Foundation surveyed 28,771 adults online in 15 countries using the new Rome V diagnostic questionnaire and compared the results with its earlier Rome IV global study.
At least one disorder of gut–brain interaction was present in 40.9%, against 40.5% under Rome IV. Prevalence was higher in women and fell with age. Functional dyspepsia affected 8.1%, chronic constipation 8.9%, irritable bowel syndrome 8.5% and unclassified bowel disorder 9.6%. Two newly listed adult disorders, abdominal migraine and inability to belch, affected 5.1% and 1.4%.
The stable prevalence across criteria supports the validity of the Rome V definitions. For clinicians, the main message is scale: these conditions make up a large share of gastroenterology workload and deserve a positive diagnosis rather than repeated investigation.
- Make a positive diagnosis using Rome criteria rather than by exclusion alone
- Check alarm features before labelling symptoms functional
- Recognise inability to belch as a treatable entity
- Explain the gut–brain mechanism to patients early
Why it matters
The new criteria did not change how common these disorders are, so clinicians can adopt Rome V with confidence.
Don't overread it
An internet survey may not represent all populations, and questionnaire diagnoses are not clinical diagnoses.
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