Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2014; 20(21): 6680-6684
Published online Jun 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i21.6680
Ehealth monitoring in irritable bowel syndrome patients treated with low fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols diet
Natalia Pedersen, Zsuzsanna Vegh, Johan Burisch, Lisbeth Jensen, Dorit Vedel Ankersen, Maria Felding, Nynne Nyboe Andersen, Pia Munkholm
Natalia Pedersen, Johan Burisch, Lisbeth Jensen, Pia Munkholm, Digestive Disease Centre, Medical Section, Herlev University Hospital, Copenhagen 2730, Denmark
Zsuzsanna Vegh, Digestive Disease Centre, Medical Section, Herlev University Hospital, Copenhagen 2730, Denmark
Zsuzsanna Vegh, Department of Medicine, Veszprém Megyei Csolnoky Ferenc Kórház, Veszprém 8200, Hungary
Dorit Vedel Ankersen, Maria Felding, Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen 1870, Denmark
Nynne Nyboe Andersen, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen 2300, Denmark
Author contributions: Jensen L, Andersen NN and Munkholm P contributed to design with ConstantMed Inc. and protocol of the study; Pedersen N and Andersen NN recruited the patients in the study; Patients’ education in LFD was performed by Jensen L, Ankersen DV and Felding M; Pedersen N and Vegh Z performed data preparation and statistical analysis; Pedersen N, Vegh Z, Burisch J and Munkholm P interpreted the data; Pedersen N and Vegh Z drafted the manuscript, which was critically revised by all co-authors; all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Zsuzsanna Vegh, MD, Department of Medicine, Veszprém Megyei Csolnoky Ferenc Kórház, Kórház utca 1, Veszprém 8200, Hungary. veghzsuzsi@gmail.com
Telephone: +36-70-3692674 Fax: +36-88-556209
Received: October 25, 2013
Revised: January 24, 2014
Accepted: March 8, 2014
Published online: June 7, 2014
Abstract

In the present study we report on changes in irritable bowel syndrome-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) and irritable bowel syndrome-quality of life (IBS-QoL) in 19 IBS patients, aged 18 to 74 years (F/M: 14/5), during 12 wk registering their symptoms on the web-application (www.ibs.constant-care.dk). During a control period of the first 6-wk patients were asked to register their IBS-SSS and IBS-QoL on the web-application weekly without receiving any intervention. Thereafter, low fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet (LFD) was introduced for the next 6 wk while continuing the registration. Though a small sample size a significant improvement in disease activity (IBS-SSS) was observed during both the control period, median: 278 (range: 122-377), P = 0.02, and subsequently during the LFD period, median: 151 (range: 29-334), P < 0.01. The IBS-QoL solely changed significantly during the LFD period, median: 67 (37-120), P < 0.01. The significant reduction in disease activity during the control period shows a positive effect of the web-application on IBS symptoms when presented as a “traffic light”. However adding the diet reduced IBS-SSS to < 150, inactive to mild symptoms. In the future results from larger scale trials are awaited.

Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome, Low fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols diet, Self-management, Disease-specific quality of life, Disease activity

Core tip: The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms provides a challenge for clinicians in everyday practice. In our case report we present the changes in disease activity and quality of life of 19 IBS patients using web-application as a tool for self-management over 6-wk and then applying the low Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono- saccharides and Polyols diet while continuing the registration of their symptoms over a second 6-wk period.