*EMBARGOED All research presented at the 2021 ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course is strictly embargoed until Sunday, October 24, 2021, at 3:30 pm EDT.
Oral 43 Development and Validation of a Novel Scoring System for Bloating and Distension: The Mayo Bloating Questionnaire
Author Insight from David J. Cangemi, MD, Mayo Clinic Health System
What’s new here and important for clinicians?
Abdominal bloating and distension are two highly prevalent symptoms, especially among patients with disorders of brain-gut interaction (DBGI), such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Despite their prevalence, there is no validated questionnaire to assess the severity of bloating symptoms. After performing a literature review, surveying international experts in the field of DBGI, and conducting a focus group of patients with bloating, we created the 45-item Mayo Bloating Questionnaire. In this prospective study, we distributed the questionnaire to 41 patients with symptoms of abdominal bloating and/or distension, who were asked to complete the questionnaire at the time of evaluation and one week later; no treatment or intervention was performed during the week between questionnaire completion. Through an analysis of patient responses, we found the Mayo Bloating Questionnaire to be easy to use, with excellent response consistency, excellent test-retest reliability, and a strong association was demonstrated between symptom severity and quality of life. We propose the Mayo Bloating Questionnaire as a valid method for assessing the severity of bloating symptoms for clinical and research purposes.
What do patients need to know?
Abdominal bloating and distension are very common gastrointestinal symptoms which can become chronic and negatively affect quality of life, leading some patients to seek medical consultation. Despite how common bloating is, there is no survey tool which allows clinicians to objectively assess the severity of bloating symptoms and their impact on patients’ lives. In this study, we created and validated the Mayo Bloating Questionnaire as a potentially useful tool for clinicians to use in clinical practice and research to assess the severity of patients’ bloating symptoms.
Author Contact
David J. Cangemi, MD, Mayo Clinic Health System
cangemi [dot] david [at] mayo [dot] edu
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