Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal pain-related disorders in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Introduction: Chronic, recurrent abdominal pain is a common symptom in children and adolescents. There is still limited evidence on the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with type 1 diabetes. Aim of the study: To compare the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal abdominal pain-related disorders in children and adolescents with and without type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Material and methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire based study. Adolescents with T1DM lasting more than 2 years completed The Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms - Rome III Version. Based on that questionnaire the patients were classified into categories of functional abdominal pain related disorders according to Rome III criteria. Results: Among 100 adolescents (9-17 years old; 52 girls and 48 boys), 61% reported abdominal pain related symptoms. The most common diagnosis was functional dyspepsia (34 patients) and functional abdominal pain (22 patients). Compared to the control group, the patients with diabetes had overall significantly more functional dyspepsia (OR: 8.66, 95%CI: 4.88, 15.35) and abdominal pain-related disorders (OR: 2.63, 95%CI: 1.68, 4.09). No difference in the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (OR: 0.66, 95%CI: 0.23, 1.74) and functional abdominal pain (OR: 0.93, 95%CI: 0.55, 1.56) has been revealed between the studied groups. Conclusions: Functional abdominal pain-related symptoms occur in adolescents with T1DM – 2.5 times more frequently than in healthy children.