Functional gastrointestinal disorder is associated with increased non-gastrointestinal healthcare consumption in the general population

OBJECTIVES: Comparison of comorbidity and healthcare consumption in primary healthcare subjects with persistent functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) and a strictly gastrointestinal (GI) symptom-free group (SSF). METHODS: A stratified sample (n = 1428, 21–86 years) of subjects living in the Östhammar community, Sweden, was limited to half of the community and classified through the Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire (ASQ) into two study groups, one with persistent FGID (n = 71), another SSF (n = 48). Symptoms were re-evaluated by means of the ASQ at a surgery visit, as was healthcare consumption during 2 years, and the levels of anxiety and depression, as measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Diagnoses were set according to The International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and the 14 diagnostic groups. RESULTS: Of the FGID patients, 97% had a non-GI diagnosis, compared with 100% of SSF (ns). The mean number of doctors’ consultations (OR = 3.5), phone calls to doctors (OR = 3.4), number of prescriptions (OR = 2.4) and number of set diagnoses (OR = 3.9), anxiety level (OR = 11.5) and depression (OR = 5.2) were all statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) for FGID than for SSF, while the number of referrals and sick leave were not. Besides a GI diagnosis, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the spectrum of morbidity in terms of ICD-9 subgroup classification, except an increased proportion of older SSF subjects with circulatory disorders and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are related to an increased demand on primary healthcare because of an increased overall comorbidity, which signifies a need for a holistic healthcare approach.