P2335 - Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation From the IBS in America 2024 Real-World Survey Experience Burdensome Symptoms Beyond Constipation

Baharak Moshiree, MD¹, Johannah Ruddy, ², Belinda Gist, PhD², Elizabeth Stremke, PhD, RD², Laura Williams, PhD², Eric Shah, MD^3
1Advocate Health Wake Forest Medical University, Charlotte, NC; ²Ardelyx, Inc., Waltham, MA; ³University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) is a debilitating disorder with symptoms of abdominal pain and constipation, accounting for approximately a third of IBS cases. In 2024, the IBS In America survey was conducted to gain insight into the real-life experiences of patients (pts) with IBS and to report on symptoms beyond bloating and abdominal pain.

Methods: IBS In America 2024 was a 15-minute, real-world, online survey fielded by Health Union from January 15-April 14, 2024, in US residents aged ≥18 years. The survey covered demographics, comorbidities, quality of life (QoL)/impact, treatments, and health care provider (HCP) interactions. Pts who completed the survey were invited to participate in an institutional review board–approved extension survey if they met the following criteria: diagnosed with IBS-C or IBS with alternating diarrhea and constipation by an HCP, currently seeing an HCP to treat IBS, and had ever used an over-the-counter or prescription treatment for IBS. 4 questions addressed pts’ menstrual status and the impact of menstruation on constipation. This analysis only includes pts with IBS-C who completed the extension survey.

Results: Respondents with IBS-C (N=284) had a mean (range) age of 51 (18-86) years and were predominantly female (92%; 48% postmenopausal) and White (87%). Most respondents (89%) had been living with IBS-C for ≥2 years, with 80% reporting IBS episodes occurring weekly or daily over the past year. In the previous 7 days, 86% of pts had hard or lumpy stools and 95% experienced straining while trying to have bowel movements (BMs); 85% of pts experienced pain in the rectum or anus while trying to have BMs, of whom 28% described the pain as “quite bad” or “very bad.” A feeling of incomplete BM was reported “often” or “always” by 56% of pts in the previous 7 days, and 48% had to manually extract stool. In addition to constipation, ≥60% of pts with IBS-C also experienced bloating, abdominal cramps and pain, fullness, excessive gas, and/or fatigue. Of the 104 respondents currently perimenopausal or having menstrual periods, 48% felt that menstruation made constipation worse and >80% felt it exacerbated abdominal pain and bloating symptoms.

Discussion: Pts with IBS-C reported many symptoms in addition to constipation, such as bloating, cramps, gas, and fatigue, that negatively impacted their lived experience. Pts also described a worsening of IBS-C symptoms during menstruation, suggesting a disparity in QoL that warrants further investigation.


Disclosures:


Baharak Moshiree, MD¹, Johannah Ruddy, ², Belinda Gist, PhD², Elizabeth Stremke, PhD, RD², Laura Williams, PhD², Eric Shah, MD³. P2335 - Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation From the IBS in America 2024 Real-World Survey Experience Burdensome Symptoms Beyond Constipation, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.