Comparative Study Between Rome III and Rome Criteria in College Students With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Background: The newly released Rome criteria in 2016 has a stricter and more precise definition of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) when compared with Rome III criteria. The adjustment and improvement of diagnostic criteria by Rome criteria may affect the clinical diagnosis of FGIDs. Aims: To investigate the differences and the similarities between Rome III and Rome criteria in the diagnosis of FGIDs in college students. Methods: The FGIDs database of college students in Zhejiang Province established by our previous research team were further evaluated and analyzed by Rome criteria, and the incidence, psychological symptom score, overlapping of disease of FGIDs were calculated, and compared with Rome III criteria. Results: Of the 1 870 cases in database, 1 025 (54.81%) met Rome criteria of FGIDs; while 1 111 (59.41%) met Rome III criteria, the difference in detection rate was statistically significant (P <0.01). In Rome group, incidences of belching disorders (2.14% vs. 5.83%, P<0.01), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (2.78% vs. 6.90%, P<0.01), functional abdominal bloating/distension (1.28% vs. 4.12%, P<0.01) were significantly lower than those in Rome III group, while incidence of functional diarrhea was significantly higher (3.85% vs. 0.70%, P<0.01). Patients met Rome criteria showed a higher score of obsession⁃compulsion, depression and anxiety (P<0.05). Rome criteria caused 33 (25.58%) original IBS patients included in functional diarrhea, and 6 (4.65%) original IBS patients included in function constipation. The diagnosis of functional bowel disease overlapping with other FGIDs (belching disorders, functional dyspepsia) according to Rome III and Rome criteria were statistically different (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusions: Rome criteria has a stricter and more accurate definition of FGIDs, reflecting a more accurate psychological and clinical features, and identification of patients who really need treatment, resulting in a more efficient and feasible application in clinical practice and scientific research.