Cited by 592Gastrointestinal motility and disordersInfant Health and DevelopmentGut microbiota and health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 311 of the 311 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 161 of the 282 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome

Open access

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders seen by clinicians in both primary and secondary care. Since publication of the last British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guideline in 2007, substantial advances have been made in understanding its complex pathophysiology, resulting in its re-classification as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, rather than a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Moreover, there has been a considerable amount of new evidence published concerning the diagnosis, investigation and management of IBS. The primary aim of this guideline, commissioned by the BSG, is to review and summarise the current evidence to inform and guide clinical practice, by providing a practical framework for evidence-based management of patients. One of the strengths of this guideline is that the recommendations for treatment are based on evidence derived from a comprehensive search of the medical literature, which was used to inform an update of a series of trial-based and network meta-analyses assessing the efficacy of dietary, pharmacological and psychological therapies in treating IBS. Specific recommendations have been made according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system, summarising both the strength of the recommendations and the overall quality of evidence. Finally, this guideline identifies novel treatments that are in development, as well as highlighting areas of unmet need for future research.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324598

Cites

311 of 311 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

73 Partly supported · 62 Supported · 47 No full text of the sources · 27 No basis given · 21 Own interpretation · 20 Sources not found · 10 Supported so far · 10 Own result · 9 Own method · 5 Couldn’t confirm · 4 Not checked yet · 2 Not supported · 1 Mixed support · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 150 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 121
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 30
141 of 141
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses is applicable to the general IBS population in clinical practice.

    “The primary aim of this guideline, commissioned by the BSG, is to review and summarise the current evidence to inform and guide clinical practice, by providing a practical framework for evidence-based management of patients.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The recommendations will lead to improved patient outcomes.

    “providing a practical framework for evidence-based management of patients.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The quality of evidence grading accurately reflects the certainty of the evidence.

    “Specific recommendations have been made according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system, summarising both the strength of the recommendations and the overall quality of evidence.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The main pathophysiological aspect of IBS is related to visceral hypersensitivity, which is also the principal target of many current treatments.

    “The main pathophysiological aspect is related to visceral hypersensitivity, which is also the principal target of many current treatments.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    IBS is a disorder of gut-brain interaction.

    “explaining IBS as a disorder of gut-brain interaction”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Cure is unlikely, but substantial improvement in symptoms, social functioning and quality of life is achievable.

    “It is important to stress that cure is unlikely, but substantial improvement in symptoms, social functioning and quality of life is achievable.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most second-line drugs are only available in secondary care.

    “Most second-line drugs are only available in secondary care.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The treatment of IBS is generally directed towards the predominant symptom, or symptoms, experienced by the patient.

    “The treatment of IBS is generally directed towards the predominant symptom, or symptoms, experienced by the patient.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Calprotectin is not specific to IBD and can be elevated in older age groups (age ≥45 years), obesity, infection, malignancy or by medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

    “However, calprotectin is not specific to IBD and can be elevated in older age groups (age ≥45 years), obesity, infection, malignancy or by medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Rome IV criteria are the gold standard to define IBS for research purposes.

    “Although the Rome IV criteria are the gold standard to define IBS for research purposes”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Some IBS symptoms are a result of gastrointestinal spasm and dysmotility, which antispasmodics ameliorate.

    “The proposed mechanism of action of these agents is based on the assumption that some IBS symptoms are a result of gastrointestinal spasm and dysmotility, which antispasmodics ameliorate.217”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In clinical practice, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and constipation are common side effects of loperamide, and may limit tolerability.

    “However, in clinical practice, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and constipation are common side effects, and may limit tolerability.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Dysfunction within the bidirectional gut-brain axis plays an important role in the genesis and maintenance of symptoms in IBS.

    “Dysfunction within the bidirectional gut-brain axis is considered to play an important role in the genesis and maintenance of symptoms in IBS.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are often severity criteria built in, which aim to exclude the most severe or refractory symptoms, as well as less severe cases.

    “There are often severity criteria built in, which aim to exclude the most severe or refractory symptoms, as well as less severe cases.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many treatments are restricted to patients with IBS-C or IBS-D, whereas those with IBS-M or IBS-U are rarely recruited.

    “many treatments are restricted to patients with IBS-C or IBS-D, whereas those with IBS-M or IBS-U are rarely recruited”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Although there are established composite end points for IBS-C and IBS-D, these do not exist for IBS-M or IBS-U.

    “although there are established composite end points for IBS-C and IBS-D, these do not exist for IBS-M or IBS-U”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Recruitment to trials is optimal when patients are linked to specialist clinics.

    “Second, recruitment to trials is optimal when patients are linked to specialist clinics.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Patients with IBS are widely disseminated, mostly in community care, often with no long-term follow-up, and only a minority attend specialist clinics where research is undertaken.

    “However, patients with IBS are widely disseminated, mostly in community care, often with no long-term follow-up, and only a minority attend specialist clinics where research is undertaken.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The latter group (specialist clinic patients) is often more complex, more refractory and, by definition, less appropriate for treatment trials.

    “This latter group is often more complex, more refractory and, by definition, less appropriate for treatment trials.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are often too many visits, a need for invasive investigations, and a high burden of data collection.

    “There are often too many visits, a need for invasive investigations, and a high burden of data collection.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Patients who enter IBS trials have usually tried all available treatments and remain unsatisfied with care, so being randomised to 'standard care' for ≥12 weeks is unappealing.

    “Patients who enter IBS trials have usually tried all available treatments and remain unsatisfied with care, so being randomised to 'standard care' for ≥12 weeks is unappealing.”
21 of 21

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Citations

Cites

Show all 309 references

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Howick J , Phillips B , Ball C . Oxford centre for evidence-based medicine levels of evidence. University of Oxford, Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, 2009.
  2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence . Suspected cancer: recognition and referral NICE guideline [NG12], 2015. Available: https://wwwniceorguk/guidance/ng12/chapter/1-recommendations-organised-by-site-of-cancer#lower-gastrointestinal-tract-cancers
  3. Zhang Y , Fox M , Dai N . Low-FODMAP diet versus traditional dietary advice for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, parallel-controlled trial with analysis of clinical and microbiological factors associated with patient outcome. Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society 2020;32.

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Metadata

Authors
Vasant, D. H., Paine, P. A., Black, C. J., Houghton, L. A., Everitt, H. A., Corsetti, M., Agrawal, A., Aziz, I., Farmer, A. D., Eugenicos, M. P., Moss-Morris, R., Yiannakou, Y., & Ford, A. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • University of Leeds (GB)
  • University of Southampton (GB)
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
  • Bassetlaw Hospital (GB)
  • Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (GB)
  • Western General Hospital (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • National Health Service (GB)
Corresponding author
Ford, Alexander C
Venue
Gut
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2021-04-26
Volume
70
Issue
7
Pages
1214-1240
ISSN
  • 0017-5749 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-3288
OpenAlex
W3159143441
Cited by
592
References
309
Citations by year
2026: 138 · 2025: 135 · 2024: 107 · 2023: 105 · 2022: 80 · 2021: 25
FWCI
56.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Gut (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (11/69/02)
  • University of Nottingham
  • NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Health and Development
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
irritable bowel syndrome, gut-brain axis, IBS diagnosis, IBS management, dietary therapy, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, network meta-analysis, evidence-based recommendations
MeSH terms
Drug Development, Communication, Constipation, Diarrhea, Diet, United Kingdom, Humans, Hypnosis, Patient Education as Topic, Physician-Patient Relations, Serotonin Antagonists, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Probiotics, Biomedical Research, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

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