The IBIS-C study assessed the burden of IBS-C in 6 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and UK). Here we present the diagnosis and management results for the UK.

Observational study in patients (pts) diagnosed with moderate-to-severe IBS-C in the last five years (Rome-III criteria) with a 12-month follow-up (6 months retrospective and 6 months prospective, in order to assess health resource utilisation [HRU] prior to and after an active phase of the disease). Moderate-to-severe IBS-C was defined as an IBS-Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) ≥175.

104 pts were included (79% severe, mean age [±SD] 45.5 ± 14.6 years old, 93% female). Mean time since diagnosis: 2.6 ± 4.0 years; mean symptom duration: 15.3 ± 14.9 yrs. Diagnostic procedures were highly variable; the most common were blood tests (72%), colonoscopy (69%), and abdominal ultrasound (55%). At inclusion the most prevalent symptoms were abdominal pain (92%) and bloating (91%). Main ongoing comorbidities were anxiety (50%), chronic pain (44%), headache (40%), insomnia (33%), or dyspepsia (31%). 52% of pts had an average of 3.6 ± 2.7 diagnostic tests during follow-up, the most common were haematology (29%) and clinical chemistry (29%) blood tests, and colonoscopy (13%). 93% of pts took prescription drugs (90% took prescription drugs for their IBS-C). The most common medication groups were: laxatives (81%), prokinetics (32%), antispasmodics (20%), and analgesics (18%) alone or in combination. Overall, 63% of pts took OTC medication for their IBS-C; the most common were laxatives (37%), prebiotics/probiotics (14%), and peppermint oil (14%). In addition, 36% of pts received complementary therapies. Overall, marginal improvement was noted in symptom severity (IBS-SSS total score) between baseline (373 ± 83) and the 6-month visit (324 ± 113).

Moderate-to-severe IBS-C symptoms often remain undiagnosed for many years and degree of control does not improve over time even though there is a high degree of prescription medication use. Consequently, moderate-to-severe IBS-C continues to be a burden despite the availability of therapeutic interventions.

Y. Yiannakou Conflict with: Grants: Shire; Medtronic. Speaker fees: Almirall; Shire; Sucampo, M. Eugenicos Conflict with: Consultant/Advisory Board Member: Almirall; Astellas; Dr Falk Pharma; NAPP; and Shire., D. Sanders Consultant for: Almirall, A. Emmanuel Conflict with: Advisory Board and Educational Talk honoraria: Almirall., P. Whorwell Conflict with: Consultant/research grant support: Almirall; Chr. Hansen; Danone Research; Ironwood; Salix; Shire; Sucampo., F. Butt: None Declared, S. Bridger: None Declared, N. Arebi: None Declared, A. Millar Conflict with: The hospital received payment from Almirall for the conduct of the study, V. Kaushik Conflict with: Advisory Board and Educational Talk honoraria: Almirall. Meeting support: Cooks; Tillotts; AbbVie, M. Rance Employee of: Almirall, J. Mackinnon Employee of: TFS Develop S. L, contracted by Almirall S. A to conduct the study, J. Bertsch Employee of: TFS Develop S. L, contracted by Almirall S. A to conduct the study, J. Fortea Employee of: Almirall, J. Tack Conflict with: Grants/research support: Abbott; Novartis; Shire. Honoraria/consultancy fees: Almirall; AstraZeneca; Danone; GI Dyamics; GlaxoSmithKline; Ironwood; Janssen; Menarini; Novartis; Rhythm; Shire; Takeda; Theravance; Tsumura; Will Pharma; Zeria. Speaker fees: Abbott; Almirall; AstraZeneca; Janssen; Menarini; Novartis; Shire; Takeda; Zeria.