Irritable bowel syndrome among adolescents and adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the features of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adolescents and adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 510 randomly selected participants from Riyadh in November and December 2022. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire distributed on social media and printed in papers containing demographic information, the incidence of IBS, associated factors, and quality of life. Result: The majority of participants were females (76%) between the ages of 10-20 years (42%), did not have IBS (71%), did not have GIT diseases (75%), were non-smokers (83%), were not diagnosed with depression (85%), had an income of less than 5,000 Saudi Riyals (39%), had no difficulty in sexual intercourse (56%) and no issues with their closest relationships (60%), and had poor Quality of Life (QoL) (83%). But individuals from age group 10-20 years had good QoL (46%). Conclusion: One-third of the study participants were diagnosed with IBS, and the majority had a low quality of life. Further public education and prospective research are both welcomed and required.