Rome V global epidemiology and validation survey: prevalence of disorders of gut–brain interaction and comparison with the Rome IV global epidemiology study

Background The recently published Rome V adult diagnostic criteria facilitated an updated epidemiological survey of disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI). Objective We aimed to describe the global epidemiology of DGBI using the Rome V criteria and compare it with the Rome IV Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study. Methods A population-based Internet survey of 28,771 adults was conducted in 15 countries using the Rome V diagnostic questionnaire. DGBI prevalence was determined and compared with the Rome IV data. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations of demographic factors to Rome V DGBI status in the global population and to assess potentially associated clinical factors. Results The surveys yielded similar results. The prevalence of at least one DGBI using the Rome V criteria was 40.9%, compared with 40.5% for Rome IV. In both, the prevalence was higher among females and decreased with increasing age. In the Rome V sample (25 DGBI), the most prevalent oesophageal disorder was functional dysphagia at 4.1%, the most prevalent gastroduodenal disorder was functional dyspepsia at 8.1%, unclassified bowel disorder was the most prevalent bowel disorder (9.6%), followed by chronic constipation (8.9%) and IBS (8.5%) and proctalgia fugax was the most prevalent anorectal disorder (7.3%). The prevalence rates for two new DGBI were 5.1% for abdominal migraine and 1.4% for inability to belch syndrome. Conclusion The Rome V global prevalence of DGBI is consistent with Rome IV. This bolsters confidence in the validity of prevalence rates for DGBI and reaffirms their high global burden.

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Journal
Gut
Published
2026-08-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2026-339666
Primary Topic
Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments
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article
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article

Rome V global epidemiology and validation survey: prevalence of disorders of gut–brain interaction and comparison with the Rome IV global epidemiology study

Max J. Schmulson, Sang Kil Lee, Xiucai Fang, Anne F. Peery et al.
Gut
Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments
article

Rome V global epidemiology and validation survey: prevalence of disorders of gut–brain interaction and comparison with the Rome IV global epidemiology study

Max J. Schmulson, Sang Kil Lee, Xiucai Fang, Anne F. Peery, Serhat Bor, Ami D. Sperber, Douglas A. Drossman, Olafur S. Palsson, Guijun Fei, Jan F. Tack, David M. Rodrigues, Dan L. Dumitraşcu, Carlos Fernando de Magalhães Francesconi, Viola Andresen, Javier Santos, Chloé Melchior, Shin Fukudo, Agata Mulak, Jóhann P. Hreinsson, Magnus Simrén, Tiffany Taft, Dipesh H. Vasant, Luis Bustos Fernández
article en

Abstract

Background The recently published Rome V adult diagnostic criteria facilitated an updated epidemiological survey of disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI). Objective We aimed to describe the global epidemiology of DGBI using the Rome V criteria and compare it with the Rome IV Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study. Methods A population-based Internet survey of 28,771 adults was conducted in 15 countries using the Rome V diagnostic questionnaire. DGBI prevalence was determined and compared with the Rome IV data. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations of demographic factors to Rome V DGBI status in the global population and to assess potentially associated clinical factors. Results The surveys yielded similar results. The prevalence of at least one DGBI using the Rome V criteria was 40.9%, compared with 40.5% for Rome IV. In both, the prevalence was higher among females and decreased with increasing age. In the Rome V sample (25 DGBI), the most prevalent oesophageal disorder was functional dysphagia at 4.1%, the most prevalent gastroduodenal disorder was functional dyspepsia at 8.1%, unclassified bowel disorder was the most prevalent bowel disorder (9.6%), followed by chronic constipation (8.9%) and IBS (8.5%) and proctalgia fugax was the most prevalent anorectal disorder (7.3%). The prevalence rates for two new DGBI were 5.1% for abdominal migraine and 1.4% for inability to belch syndrome. Conclusion The Rome V global prevalence of DGBI is consistent with Rome IV. This bolsters confidence in the validity of prevalence rates for DGBI and reaffirms their high global burden.

Gut
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL), University of North Carolina Health Care (US), Inserm (FR), Yonsei University (KR), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CN), Tohoku University (JP), Queen's University (CA), Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (CN), Wroclaw Medical University (PL), Ege University (TR), Centro Médico Bustos Fernandez (AR), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (BR), Hospital Angeles Clinica Londres (MX), Normandie Université (FR), Rome Foundation (US), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari (ES), Dermatologikum Hamburg (DE), Centre for Inflammation Research (GB), University of Salford (GB), Université de Rouen Normandie (FR), University of Gothenburg (SE), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX), KU Leuven (BE)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments
DOISourceOpenAlex
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