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IBS aggregated in families, along with spouses
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A genetic component for increased risk for irritable bowel syndrome was observed among first- second- and third-degree relatives along with an increased non-genetic risk factor among spouses, according to a nationwide family study in Sweden.
In the largest register-based family study of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers linked the Swedish Multigeneration Register to the Hospital Discharge Register (1987-2010) and the Swedish Outpatient Care Register (2001-2010) to analyze 51,962 individuals with IBS.
IBS odds ratios for relatives of individuals who had an IBS diagnosis were calculated and compared with relatives of unaffected individuals. Investigators also calculated ORs for IBS cases recorded in primary health care in four Swedish counties (2001-2007).
ORs for IBS were (all 95% CI):
- 1.75 in siblings (1.63-1.89)
- 1.82 in offspring (1.67-1.97)
- 1.9 in parents (1.76-2.05)
- 1.1 in maternal half-siblings (0.88-1.39)
- 1.78 in paternal half-siblings (1.48-2.15)
- 1.27 in nieces/nephews (1.18-1.38)
- 1.11 in cousins (1.04-1.18)
- 1.51 in spouses of probands diagnosed with IBS (1.24-1.84)
In primary health care, the OR for probands diagnosed with IBS was 1.82 in siblings (1.52-2.18, and 1.82 in offspring (1.49-2.21).
Researchers posed a number of possible explanations for the increased odds of IBS among spouses, including shared family environmental exposures and shared positive and negative life events.
“Assortative mating could also contribute to the association among spouses,” the investigators wrote. “Thus, individuals with IBS may be more likely to marry individuals with similar health problems. Moreover, spouses of individuals with IBS may also be more likely to seek medical attention.”
Disclosure:The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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