PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AMONG ENGLISH-SPEAKING STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF EXPOSURE TO LEADING RISK FACTORS
Introduction. Hypodynamia and associated obesity, depression, and anxiety are recognized risk factors for numerous diseases of the digestive tract. Studying their impact on the young population is a particularly urgent task, given the spread of online learning and the increase in psychological stres...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
State Institution of Science «Research and Practical Center of Preventive and Clinical Medicine» State Administrative Department
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Клінічна та профілактична медицина |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cp-medical.com/index.php/journal/article/view/561 |
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| Summary: | Introduction. Hypodynamia and associated obesity, depression, and anxiety are recognized risk factors for numerous diseases of the digestive tract. Studying their impact on the young population is a particularly urgent task, given the spread of online learning and the increase in psychological stress induced by the Russian military invasion of Ukraine in recent years.
Aim. To study the influence of the above-mentioned risk factors on the appearance of the gastrointestinal symptoms.
Materials and methods. A survey of 208 English-speaking medical students was performed. It included 3 questionnaires: Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Body weight, height, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits were also estimated.
Results. 62% of students reported troublesome complaints greater than “minor discomfort” at least in one of the GSRS clusters. The total number of points on the GSRS, as well as in the clusters “abdominal pain” (AP), “reflux” (RS), “indigestion” (IS), “diarrhea” (DS) and “constipation” (CS), were significantly correlated with the severity of anxiety (r = 0.14 to 0.19) but not depression. Alcohol consumption, expressed in three stipulated levels, also increased scores in all clusters except RS and CS. A higher MET-parameter of IPAQ was associated with reduced symptoms in the RS cluster. Only 36.5% of students didn’t experience anxiety, and 24.5% didn’t experience depression. Seasonality of these syndromes was observed: the average anxiety score (Mean±SEM) in winter was 9.10±0.23 points versus 7.20±0.56 points in summer; for depression, it was 12.36±0.18 versus 6.21±0.48, respectively (p<0.05). To identify the risk factors of gastrointestinal symptoms, a logistic regression analysis was performed using four predictor variables that demonstrated a significant association in preliminary assessments.
Conclusions. Independent predictors (risk factors) of troublesome gastrointestinal symptoms in the studied population include intense anxiety (HADS score), low levels of physical activity (MET parameter), female gender, and the winter season. Depression is associated with concomitant anxiety and the winter season but is not directly related to gastrointestinal complaints. |
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| ISSN: | 2616-4868 |