@article{3107379,
    title = "Prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children and Adolescents in the Mediterranean Region of Europe",
    author = "Scarpato, E. and Kolacek, S. and Jojkic-Pavkov, D. and Konjik, V. and Živković, N. and Roman, E. and Kostovski, A. and Zdraveska, N. and Altamimi, E. and Papadopoulou, A. and Karagiozoglou-Lampoudi, T. and Shamir, R. and Bar Lev, M.R. and Koleilat, A. and Mneimneh, S. and Bruzzese, D. and Leis, R. and Staiano, A. and Kafritsa, P. and Brusa, S. and Campanozzi, A. and Romano, C. and Salvatore, S. and Kotzakioulafi, E. and Barrio, J. and Cilleruelo, M.L. and Juste, M. and Gutiérrez-Junquera, C. and Trbojević, T. and Ivković, L. and MEAP Group",
    journal = "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology",
    year = "2018",
    volume = "16",
    number = "6",
    pages = "870-876",
    publisher = "W.B. Saunders",
    issn = "1542-3565, 1542-7714",
    doi = "10.1016/j.cgh.2017.11.005",
    keywords = "abdominal migraine;  adolescent;  adult;  aerophagia;  Article;  child;  constipation;  controlled study;  Croatia;  cross-sectional study;  digestive system function disorder;  geographic distribution;  Greece;  human;  irritable colon;  Israel;  Italy;  Jordan;  Lebanon;  Macedonia (republic);  prevalence;  prospective study;  Serbia;  sex ratio;  Southern Europe;  Spain;  clinical trial;  Europe;  female;  gastrointestinal disease;  male;  multicenter study;  preschool child;  risk factor;  sex factor, Adolescent;  Child;  Child, Preschool;  Europe;  Female;  Gastrointestinal Diseases;  Humans;  Male;  Mediterranean Region;  Prevalence;  Prospective Studies;  Risk Factors;  Sex Factors",
    abstract = "Background & Aims: Little is known about the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children from the Mediterranean area of Europe. We aimed to assess the prevalence of FGIDs in children and adolescents in this region. Methods: We collected data on 13,750 children (4–18 years old) enrolled in the Mediterranean–European Area Project, a school-based health study performed in Croatia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Serbia, and Spain. Data were collected from March to June and in September of 2016. We analyzed data from 6602 students 4 to 10 years old (group A; mean age, 7.7 ± 1.9 y), and 7148 subjects 11 to 18 years old (group B; mean age, 13.8 ± 2.1 y). Children with FGIDs were identified based on answers to questionnaires on pediatric gastrointestinal symptoms, selected based on Rome III criteria. Results: In group A, the prevalence of FGIDs was 20.7%. The most frequent disorders were functional constipation (11.7%), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, 4%), aerophagia (3.5%), and abdominal migraine (3.1%). The prevalence of abdominal migraine was significantly higher in girls than in boys (P =.007). In group B, the overall prevalence of FGIDs was 26.6%. The most frequent disorders were functional constipation (13.1%), abdominal migraine (7.8%), aerophagia (6.3%), and IBS (5.6%). In group B, FGIDs had a higher prevalence among girls than boys (P <.001). In both groups, we found significant differences in the prevalence of specific disorders among specific countries. Conclusions: In an analysis of data on children 4 to 18 years old from the Mediterranean–European Area Project, we found FGIDs to be more frequent in girls. Functional constipation, aerophagia, abdominal migraine, and IBS are the most common disorders. However, the prevalence of FGIDs varies significantly among countries. © 2018 AGA Institute"
}