Table 1.

Patient baseline demographics and characteristics

	Austria (n=86)	Switzerland (n=52)
Female, n (%)	71 (82.6)	40 (76.9)
Mean age, years	51.3	49.2
Mean BMI, kg/m²	24.0	23.4
Average time since diagnosis, years	2.1	5.2
Received pretreatment, n (%)	73 (84.9)	49 (94.2)
Laxatives	67 (77.9)	41 (78.9)
Dietary fibres	55 (64.0)	36 (69.2)
Concomitant disease, n (%)	35 (40.7)	10 (19.2)
Hypertension	9 (10.5)	5 (9.6)
Received concurrent IBS treatment, n (%)	33 (38.4)	16 (30.8)
Laxatives	22 (25.6)	13 (25.0)
Osmotic	18 (20.9)	6 (11.5)
Macrogol, combinations	9 (10.5)	5 (9.6)
Lactulose	5 (5.8)	1 (1.9)
Magnesium citrate	3 (3.5)	0
Sodium phosphate	1 (1.2)	0
Magnesium hydroxide	0	2 (3.9)
Bulk-forming	0	5 (9.6)
Sterculia	0	4 (7.7)
Ispaghula (psylla seeds)	0	1 (1.9)
Stimulant	17 (19.8)	7 (13.5)
Bisacodyl	8 (9.3)	3 (5.8)
Sodium picosulfate	5 (5.8)	2 (3.9)
Senna glycosides, combinations	2 (2.3)	2 (3.9)
Carbon dioxide-producing drugs	2 (2.3)	0
Stimulant/stool softener	0	2 (3.9)
Glycerol	0	2 (3.9)
Stool softener	0	2 (3.9)
Liquid paraffin, combinations	0	2 (3.9)
Patients experiencing abdominal pain at baseline, n (%)	85 (98.8)	46 (90.2)
Mean intensity score of abdominal pain at baseline (SD)	6.0 (±2.1)	5.4 (±2.7)
Patients experiencing bloating at baseline, n (%)	81 (95.3)	48 (94.1)
Mean intensity score of bloating at baseline (SD)	5.8 (±2.4)	5.6 (±2.7)
Mean number of bowel movements/week (SD)	2.1 (±1.3)	2.1 (±1.4)
Solid stool consistency, n (%)	55 (64.0)	22 (44.0)
‘Morning’ was most commonly advised time of intake, n (%)	68 (80.0)	26 (53.1)

% are calculated from total number of patients providing data for that outcome. Laxatives reported by type and chemical substance.

Baseline IBS symptoms were assessed during the week before start of therapy; 0=no pain/bloating; 10=worst pain/bloating.

BMI, body mass index; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome.