Reduction in IBS symptom severity is not paralleled by improvement in quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a brain‐gut disorder, of which the natural course varies between patients and is difficult to predict. This study aimed to evaluate symptom evolution over a 5‐year follow‐up period and to identify baseline predictors for symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) at follow‐up. Methods Maastricht IBS cohort participants completed questionnaires upon inclusion regarding demographics and lifestyle, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, anxiety and depression, and QoL. The same questionnaires, in addition to others, were completed after 5 years. Rome criteria were confirmed face‐to‐face at initial enrollment and through telephonic interviews at follow‐up. Key Results At a mean follow‐up of 4.7 years, 379 patients were approached of whom 203 (53.7%) responded. Of these, 161 were reached by telephone and analyzed; 49 (30.4%) did not fulfill the Rome III criteria at follow‐up and had lower levels of GI symptoms and GI‐specific anxiety compared to those remaining Rome III‐positive (P
This 5‐year follow‐up study of the Maastricht IBS cohort showed that 30% of patients did no longer fulfill the Rome III criteria. However, the decrease in GI symptom severity (i.e., being Rome III‐negative at follow‐up) did not impact quality of life nor life satisfaction. Our results indicate that long‐term quality of life and general well‐being might depend on comorbid psychological symptoms, rather than gastrointestinal symptom severity.