Rome V: four in ten adults worldwide met criteria for a disorder of gut-brain interaction

Design

Population-based internet survey using Rome V questionnaire

Population

28,771 adults in 15 countries

Primary outcome

Prevalence of disorders of gut-brain interaction

Effect

40.9% at least one (Rome IV 40.5%); IBS 8.5%, functional dyspepsia 8.1%

The Rome V global epidemiology survey in Gut (September 2026) used the new Rome V questionnaire in an internet-based survey of 28,771 adults in 15 countries and compared the results with the Rome IV 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%, IBS 8.5%, unclassified bowel disorder 9.6% and proctalgia fugax 7.3%. The two new Rome V diagnoses, abdominal migraine and inability to belch, affected 5.1% and 1.4%.

Internet panels may over-represent some groups, and questionnaire diagnosis is not clinical diagnosis. But the stability between Rome IV and V supports the criteria.

• Expect disorders of gut-brain interaction to be among the commonest problems in clinic
• Make a positive diagnosis using Rome criteria rather than by exhaustive exclusion
• Consider abdominal migraine and inability to belch — both are now recognised Rome V diagnoses
• Check alarm features before labelling symptoms functional

Why it matters

It confirms these disorders are common and consistently defined, which supports diagnosing them positively rather than by repeated investigation.

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