Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Effect on Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Saudi Arabian Adults

Abstract

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur before 18 years of age. ACEs have been associated with many negative health problems, including the development of chronic diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain. We investigated the prevalence of ACEs among patients with IBS, identified the types of ACEs commonly related to patients with IBS, and further assessed the impact of ACEs on IBS severity. Methodology A cross-sectional study was performed. The study targeted patients with IBS aged ≥ 18 years who were recruited from gastroenterology outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Adults were contacted and invited to take part in the study by completing a survey. Data were collected using two validated questionnaires, the ACE questionnaire for adults and the IBS symptom severity scoring system. Results The study included 109 patients with IBS (59.6% females). The prevalence of ACEs (patients with IBS exposed to at least one ACE) was 63.3%. The most prevalent type was emotional abuse (34.9%), followed by both physical abuse and emotional neglect (28.4%). Females reported significantly more ACEs (p = 0.035) than males. The overall IBS symptoms (r = 0.195, p = 0.043) and abdominal pain (r = 0.240, p = 0.012) severity were significantly correlated with total ACEs score. Conclusions Our findings point to a probable association between ACEs exposure and IBS, demonstrating their long-term impacts on symptoms severity. Further studies are needed to acquire a better understanding of the potential impact of ACEs on IBS.