Exam-takers’ stomachaches weren’t just in their heads... IBS develops most often in fall and among teens [Health Check]

[Financial News] When a cool breeze starts blowing, some people feel the first warning signs in their lower abdomen. New cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) occur most often in fall, and incidence is notably high not only among older adults but also among adolescents aged 15 to 19.
A research team led by Professor Ko Seok-jae of the Department of Korean Medicine at Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital said that an analysis of medical data from eight healthcare institutions in South Korea from 2019 to 2023 found that the incidence of new IBS cases was highest in fall, followed by summer. The findings were published in the international journal Frontiers in Public Health.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in which changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation and abdominal bloating, recur along with abdominal pain. It results from a combination of factors, and in recent years, attention has focused on its links to environmental factors, such as changes in gut microbiota associated with seasonal shifts and gastrointestinal infections. However, few studies in South Korea have analyzed seasonal patterns of occurrence by linking real-world medical data with weather data.
The research team used the OMOP Common Data Model (CDM), which standardizes electronic medical records, to compare incidence and prevalence by year, month, sex and age. They also linked the data with nationwide average temperature and relative humidity figures from the Korean Meteorological Administration to analyze their relationship with weather factors. A new case was defined as a patient receiving a first diagnosis after having no related diagnostic records in the previous year.
The analysis found that the incidence of new cases was highest in fall, followed by summer. Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service also showed a similar trend, with the proportion of patients treated for IBS relatively high in fall and summer. However, those data reflect the proportion of all patients treated during the period, not new cases, so the criteria for analysis differ.
A statistically significant association was also found between temperature and humidity and the incidence of IBS. The research team said that changes in immune function related to an increase in allergic and respiratory diseases in fall, and foodborne infections that become more common in hot, humid conditions in summer, could affect intestinal symptoms. However, these factors have not been confirmed as direct causes of IBS.
Incidence generally rose with age and was particularly high among people aged 65 and older. Adolescents were a notable exception. Those aged 15 to 19 had a markedly higher incidence than other younger age groups, including people in their 20s and 30s. The research team suggested that psychological factors such as academic stress may affect the “brain-gut axis,” through which the brain and gut influence each other. However, because individual factors such as stress were not directly analyzed, further research is needed.
The main symptoms and factors that aggravate IBS vary from patient to patient, so it is important to adjust eating and lifestyle habits to suit the symptoms and combine these changes with appropriate treatment.
Professor Ko said, “This study is significant because it confirmed, using medical data from multiple institutions in South Korea, that IBS incidence varies by season. Since cases are more common in fall and summer and distinctive patterns were also found among older adults and adolescents, it is important to consider your symptoms alongside your living environment and seek appropriate medical care and management, rather than dismissing recurring abdominal pain or bowel irregularities as temporary symptoms.”
[email protected] Jung Myung-jin, Medical Correspondent Reporter