Irritable bowel symptoms, use of healthcare, costs, sickness and disability pension benefits:A long-term population-based study

Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with increased healthcare use and work absenteeism. We aimed to investigate long-term use of healthcare services and social benefits across IBS symptom groups. Additionally, we estimated excess healthcare costs. Methods: A longitudinal population-based study comprising two 5-year follow-up studies: The Danish part of the Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (Dan-MONICA) 1 (1982–1987) and Inter99 (1999–2004) recruited from the western part of Copenhagen County. The total study population ( n = 7278) was divided into symptom groups according to degree of IBS definition fulfillment at baseline and/or 5-year follow-up and was followed until 31 December 2013 in Danish central registries. Poisson regression was used for the analyses adjusting for age, sex, length of education, comorbidity, cohort membership and mental vulnerability. Results: IBS symptom groups compared to no IBS symptoms were associated with an increased number of contacts with primary and secondary healthcare, as well as weeks on sickness and disability benefits. Accounting for mental vulnerability decreased the estimates and all but two associations between IBS symptom groups and outcomes remained statistically significant. The two associations that became insignificant were contacts with psychiatric hospitals and weeks on disability pension. The excess unadjusted healthcare costs for IBS were 680 Euros per year and the overall association between symptom groups and total healthcare costs were statistically significant. Conclusions: IBS symptoms influence the long-term use and costs of healthcare, as well as the use of social benefits in the general population. Mental vulnerability explained some, but not all, of the use of healthcare and social benefits. </jats:p

sj-docx-2-sjp-10.1177_14034948211056752 – Supplemental material for Social position and functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-sjp-10.1177_14034948211056752 for Social position and functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study by Signe U. Schovsbo, Thomas M. Dantoft, Betina H. Thuesen, Katja B. Leth-Møller, Lene F. Eplov, Marie W. Petersen, Torben Jørgensen and Merete Osler in Scandinavian Journal of Public Healt

Social position and functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study

Background and aim:It is generally accepted that functional somatic disorders (FSDs) are a product of biological, psychological, and social factors. Social position might be part of this complex, but the literature on this issue is currently heterogeneous and inconsistent. The aim of the present study was – in a population-based cohort – to test the hypothesis that lower social position would be associated with higher a risk of FSD.Method:The association between social position and FSD was examined in a cross-sectional study with various measures of social position (education as measured by vocational training; employment; cohabitation; subjective social status) and delimitations of FSD (irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, bodily distress syndrome, and symptom profiles). The associations were analyzed using logistic regressions to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Each social measure was analyzed independently and was adjusted for age and sex.Results:Lower levels of vocational training, being unemployed, and living alone were associated with higher risk of FSD, regardless of the FSD delimitation. There was also a significant negative association between subjective evaluated social status and FSD. The associations remained after multiple adjustments, and seemed to be strongest for the more severe FSD-types.Conclusions:Lower social position is associated with higher risk of FSD, especially the more severe FSD delimitations, which might constitute an especially vulnerable group. However, the mechanisms behind the relations remain unknown

sj-docx-6-sjp-10.1177_14034948211056752 – Supplemental material for Social position and functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study

Supplemental material, sj-docx-6-sjp-10.1177_14034948211056752 for Social position and functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study by Signe U. Schovsbo, Thomas M. Dantoft, Betina H. Thuesen, Katja B. Leth-Møller, Lene F. Eplov, Marie W. Petersen, Torben Jørgensen and Merete Osler in Scandinavian Journal of Public Healt