Prevalence and Burden of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction in Nigeria: Results From the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study.
11 affiliations
- 1Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- 2Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden.
- 3Department of Medicine, University of Jos, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
- 4University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria.
- 5University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria.
- 6Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Gombe, Nigeria.
- 7Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
- 8University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria.
- 9Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, and Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- 10Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
- 11Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Abstract
Background
Data on the prevalence and impact of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are lacking for most parts of Africa, including Nigeria, the country with the largest population on the continent. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and burden of DGBI among adults in the Nigerian general population.Methods
Nigerian data from the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study (RFGES) were obtained by trained interviewers using face-to-face household interviews. The questionnaire included the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire to assess the presence of DGBI, psychological distress (PHQ-4), non-GI somatic symptom severity (PHQ-12), mental and physical quality of life (PROMIS-10), health care utilization, and dietary intake.Key results
One thousand six hundred and thirty-two individuals (48.6% females, mean age 44 (range 18-100) years) were sampled. The prevalence of any DGBI in Nigeria was 23.5% (95% CI: 21.5-25.6), with a higher prevalence in females (26.1%) than in males (21.0%). The highest prevalence of DGBI per gastrointestinal anatomical region was for bowel disorders (17.6%). The most prevalent individual DGBI diagnoses were functional dyspepsia (7.3%) and unspecified functional bowel disorder (6.6%). Compared to individuals without DGBI, individuals with DGBI were older, had reduced quality of life, increased psychological symptoms and associated healthcare utilization burden. There was a higher prevalence of any DGBI reported in the northern regions than in the southern regions.Conclusions
DGBI are prevalent and impactful in Nigeria, in line with studies from other parts of the world that utilized the face-to-face survey methodology. More studies are needed to further understand the distribution and impact of DGBI in Nigeria and other similar countries around the world where they are understudied.
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BibTeX
@article{aliyu2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and Burden of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction in Nigeria: Results From the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study.}},
author = {Abdulsalam I Aliyu and Tom van Gils and Jóhann P Hreinsson and Mary Duguru and Pantong Davwar and Michael Okorie and David Nyam and Patience Omaiye and Crystal Umejiaku and Olive Obienu and Uchenna Ijoma and Mbang Kooffreh-Ada and Kefas Zawaya and Charles Onyekwere and Adegboyega Akere and Shrikant I Bangdiwala and Hans Törnblom and Olafur S Palsson and Ami D Sperber and Edith Okeke and Magnus Simrén},
journal = {Neurogastroenterology and motility},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1111/nmo.70480},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42973096},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence and Burden of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction in Nigeria: Results From the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study.
AU - Abdulsalam I Aliyu
AU - Tom van Gils
AU - Jóhann P Hreinsson
AU - Mary Duguru
AU - Pantong Davwar
AU - Michael Okorie
AU - David Nyam
AU - Patience Omaiye
AU - Crystal Umejiaku
AU - Olive Obienu
AU - Uchenna Ijoma
AU - Mbang Kooffreh-Ada
AU - Kefas Zawaya
AU - Charles Onyekwere
AU - Adegboyega Akere
AU - Shrikant I Bangdiwala
AU - Hans Törnblom
AU - Olafur S Palsson
AU - Ami D Sperber
AU - Edith Okeke
AU - Magnus Simrén
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Neurogastroenterology and motility
DO - 10.1111/nmo.70480
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42973096
AB - Background Data on the prevalence and impact of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are lacking for most parts of Africa, including Nigeria, the country with the largest population on the continent. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and burden of DGBI among adults in the Nigerian general population.Methods Nigerian data from the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study (RFGES) were obtained by trained interviewers using face-to-face household interviews. The questionnaire included the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire to assess the presence of DGBI, psychological distress (PHQ-4), non-GI somatic symptom severity (PHQ-12), mental and physical quality of life (PROMIS-10), health care utilization, and dietary intake.Key results One thousand six hundred and thirty-two individuals (48.6% females, mean age 44 (range 18-100) years) were sampled. The prevalence of any DGBI in Nigeria was 23.5% (95% CI: 21.5-25.6), with a higher prevalence in females (26.1%) than in males (21.0%). The highest prevalence of DGBI per gastrointestinal anatomical region was for bowel disorders (17.6%). The most prevalent individual DGBI diagnoses were functional dyspepsia (7.3%) and unspecified functional bowel disorder (6.6%). Compared to individuals without DGBI, individuals with DGBI were older, had reduced quality of life, increased psychological symptoms and associated healthcare utilization burden. There was a higher prevalence of any DGBI reported in the northern regions than in the southern regions.Conclusions DGBI are prevalent and impactful in Nigeria, in line with studies from other parts of the world that utilized the face-to-face survey methodology. More studies are needed to further understand the distribution and impact of DGBI in Nigeria and other similar countries around the world where they are understudied.
SN - 1350-1925
SN - 1365-2982
ER -