Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from a Population-Based Survey in Olmsted County, Minnesota
Table 3
Gastrointestinal complaints and medications in RA and non-RA cohortsa.
Variable
RA ()
Non-RA ()
Odds ratiob (95% CI) adjusting for age, sex, and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2)
GI symptoms (≥1 day per week)
Abdominal pain/discomfort
52 (18)
24 (10)
1.8 (1.1, 3.1)
Early satietyc
30 (12)
19 (9)
1.3 (0.7, 2.3)
Postprandial fullnessd
47 (18)
22 (10)
1.9 (1.1, 3.3)
Nausea
15 (6)
3 (1)
4.0 (1.1, 14.2)
Stool leakage
10 (4)
1 (0.4)
8.2 (1.03, 66)
GI syndromes
Dyspepsia
43 (16)
22 (10)
1.6 (0.9, 2.8)
- Dyspepsia or treatment with proton-pump inhibitors, H2 antagonists, or gastroprotective agents
132(46)
72 (31)
1.9 (1.3, 2.7)
Functional constipation
82 (29)
67 (29)
1.1 (0.7, 1.6)
- Functional constipation or laxative use
116 (41)
84 (36)
1.3 (0.9, 1.9)
Irritable bowel syndrome
82 (29)
59 (26)
1.1 (0.7, 1.6)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
41 (14)
26 (11)
1.4 (0.8, 2.3)
GI symptom complex overlap
50 (18)
28 (12)
1.4 (0.8, 2.4)
No functional GI disorders
103 (36)
94 (40)
0.9 (0.6, 1.2)
Medications
Laxatives
43 (16)
20 (9)
2.0 (1.1, 3.5)
Proton-pump inhibitors
89 (32)
48 (21)
1.7 (1.1, 2.5)
Gastroprotective agents (sucralfate, misoprostol)
9 (3.2)
2 (0.9)
3.7 (0.8, 17.6)
H2 antagonists
46 (16)
25 (11)
1.6 (0.95, 2.7)
NSAIDs, ≥7 tab./cap per week
73 (26)
26 (11)
3.0 (1.8, 5.0)
Acetaminophen, ≥7 tab. per week
58 (21)
26 (11)
2.0 (1.2, 3.4)
Narcotic pain medications
68 (24)
34 (15)
1.9 (1.2, 3.0)
Iron supplements
49 (18)
27 (12)
1.6 (0.9, 2.6)
aAll data are shown as (%).
bOdds ratio compares RA to non-RA; significant () odds ratios are shown in bold.
cDefined as inability to finish a regular-sized meal.
dDefined as feeling too full after a regular-sized meal. Abbreviations: GI: gastrointestinal; RA: rheumatoid arthritis; NSAIDs: nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs.
