Prevalence of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction Increased After Pandemic
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Aug. 5, 2025 -- The prevalence of disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI) increased from before to after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online July 30 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Olafur Palsson, Psy.D., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and colleagues performed a two-country survey to examine the effect of COVID-19 infection on the risk for developing DGBI. A population-based online survey was conducted across the United Kingdom and United States in 2017 and 2023 (prepandemic [4,050 respondents] and postpandemic [4,002 respondents]). The surveys included the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire.
The researchers found a significant increase in overall DGBI prevalence from the prepandemic to postpandemic era (38.3 to 42.6 percent; odds ratio, 1.20); similar findings were independently observed in the United Kingdom and the United States. The increase in DGBI was seen within the esophageal, gastroduodenal, and bowel domains (odds ratios, 1.16, 1.45, and 1.12, respectively). Large postpandemic prevalence increases were seen in the two most widely investigated DGBIs: functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (odds ratios, 1.48 and 1.31, respectively). Younger age, female sex, anxiety, depression, medium-to-high somatic symptom severity, an increasing number of COVID-19 infections, experiencing abdominal pain or diarrhea during COVID-19 infection, and suffering with long COVID were factors significantly associated with DGBI in the postpandemic era.
"Health care services and research funding bodies should prepare for the increase in post-COVID and long-COVID with DGBI, and address optimal management for this patient group," the authors write.
Two authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry; the 2023 survey was funded by Tillotts Pharma and Novonesis.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2025
Further Support and Information on COVID-19
Read this next
Study Estimates COVID-19 Vaccinations Prevented More Than 2.5 Million Deaths in 2020 to 2024
MONDAY, Aug. 4, 2025 -- COVID-19 vaccination during 2020 to 2024 was beneficial, but estimates are more conservative than previous calculations that focused on the first year of...
Risk of Long COVID Greater for Individuals With Social Risk Factors
THURSDAY, July 31, 2025 -- Individuals with social risk factors at the time of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have increased risk for...
Low Vitamin D Levels Up Risk for COVID-19 Hospitalization
THURSDAY, July 31, 2025 -- Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are tied to higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19, according to a study published online July 18...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.