Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Among Systemic Sclerosis Patients

BackgroundSmall intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) results in nutrient malabsorption and malnutrition, thereby increasing the morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.ObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of SIBO in SSc patients.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2015 and January 2016 in SSc patients over 18, using the glucose H-2/CH4 breath test to evaluate SIBO.ResultsEighty-nine SSc patients (30 male and 59 female) underwent the glucose H-2/CH4 breath test. The mean age was 54.4. Twelve participants were positive for the glucose H-2/CH4 breath test, yielding a SIBO prevalence of 13.5% (95% CI 7.2-22.4) among SSc patients. A multivariate analysis revealed that duration of disease >5years was significantly associated with SIBO (adjusted odds ratio 9.38; 95% CI 1.09-80.47).ConclusionThe prevalence of SIBO, using the glucose H-2/CH4 breath test, is not common among Thai SSc patients. However, a positive result was associated with longer duration of disease.