Exploring IBS in Vietnam: an updated review of current trends and treatment landscape

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder with substantial psychosocial and economic impacts. Although research on IBS has expanded in recent years, comprehensive data from low- and middle-income countries, including Vietnam, remain limited. This scoping review provides an updated synthesis of IBS epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, and psychosocial burden in Vietnam. Methods Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and Joanna Briggs Institute guidance, we systematically searched PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between September 2020 and July 2025 in English or Vietnamese. Eligible studies included original research on IBS prevalence, diagnosis, clinical characteristics, and management in Vietnamese populations. Data were extracted and thematically synthesized across four domains: prevalence/epidemiology, clinical and diagnostic features, management strategies, and psychosocial/economic impacts. Results Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, most being cross-sectional hospital-based investigations. Reported prevalence varied widely, ranging from 5.5% among university students to 68.2% in gastroenterology clinic populations. Rome IV criteria were consistently applied in recent studies. IBS-D and IBS-M emerged as the predominant subtypes, with gender and age influencing distribution. Overlaps with Helicobacter pylori infection, colonic abnormalities, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth were frequently documented. Psychological comorbidities, particularly anxiety and depression, were highly prevalent and associated with impaired quality of life. Diagnostic biomarker studies explored fecal calprotectin and anti-vinculin antibodies, although findings remain preliminary. Emerging interventions included probiotics, herbal therapies, sulpiride, and structured counseling programs, all showing improvements in symptoms and quality of life in small-scale trials. However, data on long-term efficacy, dietary interventions, and economic burden remain scarce. Conclusion IBS is an increasingly recognized health concern in Vietnam, with high variability in prevalence and strong associations with psychosocial comorbidities. While progress has been made in standardizing diagnostic criteria and initiating interventional studies, critical gaps persist in population-based epidemiology, biomarker validation, pharmacological trials, dietary strategies, and cost-of-illness analyses. Addressing these gaps is essential to optimize IBS care and inform healthcare policy in Vietnam and other resource-limited settings.