Table 4.
Results of linear regression analysis to assess the independent factors associated with worse quality of life scores
| Parameter | Category | Beta | 95% CI | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Male | — | — | |
| Female | -2.25 | -4.42, -0.08 | 0.042 | |
| Age | <18 | — | — | |
| 18 to<40 | 4.13 | -0.58, 8.84 | 0.085 | |
| 40 to<60 | 0.3 | -5.24, 5.85 | 0.915 | |
| ≥60 | -4.98 | -15.1, 5.13 | 0.334 | |
| Region | Western region | — | — | |
| Eastern region | -2.15 | -5.05, 0.74 | 0.145 | |
| Central region | 0.95 | -1.84, 3.75 | 0.503 | |
| Northern region | 6.66 | 2.34, 11.0 | 0.003 | |
| Southern region | 0.36 | -2.41, 3.14 | 0.798 | |
| Marital status | Single | — | — | |
| Married | 3.12 | 0.73, 5.52 | 0.011 | |
| Divorced | 8.66 | 3.37, 13.9 | 0.001 | |
| Widowed | 13.1 | 3.49, 22.7 | 0.008 | |
| Educational level | Illiterate | — | — | |
| Primary to secondary | -0.94 | -14.4, 12.5 | 0.891 | |
| Diploma | -2.2 | -15.9, 11.5 | 0.753 | |
| Bachelor’s or higher | -4.96 | -18.4, 8.46 | 0.469 | |
| Please indicate which healthcare provider first made your diagnosis | A gastrointestinal specialist | — | — | |
| A family physician | 0.81 | -1.32, 2.95 | 0.456 | |
| A general physician | -11.2 | -19.1, -3.17 | 0.006 | |
| Other | -0.32 | -4.44, 3.79 | 0.877 | |
| Which type of IBS do you have? | IBS-M (mixed type) | — | — | |
| IBS-D (diarrhea-predominant) | -0.4 | -3.57, 2.76 | 0.803 | |
| IBS-C (constipation-predominant) | 0.1 | -2.64, 2.84 | 0.944 | |
| Not sure | -3.86 | -6.31, -1.42 | 0.002 | |
| How many times a year do you visit your healthcare provider? | 0 | — | — | |
| 1–2 | 2.76 | 0.47, 5.05 | 0.018 | |
| 3–5 | 7.82 | 4.96, 10.7 | <0.001 | |
| 6–9 | 9.92 | 5.10, 14.7 | <0.001 | |
| ≥10 | 10.3 | 4.11, 16.5 | 0.001 | |
| When you went to your physician with the symptoms, the most common diagnostic test ordered by your physician was: | Colonoscopy | — | — | |
| Laboratory tests | 0.36 | -3.08, 3.81 | 0.835 | |
| Gastroscopy | 4.08 | -0.78, 8.94 | 0.100 | |
| Ultrasound | -1.77 | -6.27, 2.72 | 0.440 | |
| Not sure | -1.78 | -5.29, 1.74 | 0.321 | |
| Other | -5.5 | -11.6, 0.57 | 0.075 | |
| Do your GI symptoms come and go? | No | — | — | |
| Yes | -5.25 | -8.55, -1.94 | 0.002 | |
| How long do you remain symptom-free before symptoms return? | A few hours | — | — | |
| A few days | -1.72 | -4.48, 1.03 | 0.219 | |
| A few weeks | -4.25 | -7.40, -1.10 | 0.008 | |
| A few months | -9.67 | -13.1, -6.28 | <0.001 | |
| No answer | -8.27 | -12.4, -4.16 | <0.001 |
IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; GI, gastrointestinal; CI, confidence interval