Correlation between Body Mass Index and Gastrointestinal Symptoms among Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal problems are highly prevalent in all age groups .The literature and recent studies are inconsistent about the association between body mass index (BMI) and gastrointestinal symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between BMI and gastrointestinal symptoms among hospitalized patients. Research Design was descriptive exploratory correlational design. Research question: what is the relationship between body mass index and gastrointestinal symptoms? Setting: Different medical critical care units and medical wards at Cairo university hospitals. A sample of convenience of adult male and female patients who met the inclusion criteria was included. Tools: (a) the Structured Interview Questionnaire (SIQ). It covered personal data namely; age, sex, marital status, etc... and Medical history which included chief complaint, present history , past history.  (b)Gastrointestinal assessment questionnaire (GIAQ), it included bowel habit assessment,   common gastrointestinal symptoms and gastrointestinal diseases, and (c) body mass index (BMI). Patients were assigned into four groups based on the BMI using the classification of the World Health Organization. Results: A total of 489 patients were included (25.56%) were overweight (13.49%) were obese. Overall, in obese patients the prevalence of constipation (87.875) distention (83.33%) compared with normal weight; constipation (8.68%) , distention (6.94%)  and dyspepsia (4.51%)  Conclusion: there is a relationship between body mass index and some gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, dyspepsia, heart burn. A positive correlation was found between age and both constipation as well as heart burn and dyspepsia. Recommendation: Replicate the study on a large probability sample to realize generalizability and ensure consistency of results.

Key words: Body Mass Index, Gastrointestinal symptoms, Hospitalized patients