Kok Ann GweeYoung Tae BakUday Chand GhoshalSutep GonlachanvitOh Young LeeKwong Ming FockAndrew Seng Boon ChuaChing Liang LuKhean Lee GohChomsri KositchaiwatGovind MakhariaHyo Jin ParkFull Young ChangShin FukudoMyung Gyu ChoiShobna BhatiaMeiyun KeXiaohua HouMichio HongoGleneagles HospitalKorea UniversitySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences LucknowChulalongkorn UniversityHanyang UniversityChangi General HospitalIpoh Gastro CentreVeterans General Hospital-TaipeiUniversity of MalayaMahidol UniversityAll India Institute of Medical Sciences, New DelhiSeverance HospitalNational Yang-Ming University, School of MedicineTohoku University School of MedicineThe Catholic University of KoreaKing Edward Memorial Hospital IndiaPeking Union Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyTohoku University Hospital2018-09-242018-09-242010-01-01Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Australia). Vol.25, No.7 (2010), 1189-120514401746081593192-s2.0-77954002828https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/29891Background and Aims: Many of the ideas on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are derived from studies conducted in Western societies. Their relevance to Asian societies has not been critically examined. Our objectives were to bring to attention important data from Asian studies, articulate the experience and views of our Asian experts, and provide a relevant guide on this poorly understood condition for doctors and scientists working in Asia. Methods: A multinational group of physicians from Asia with special interest in IBS raised statements on IBS pertaining to symptoms, diagnosis, epidemiology, infection, pathophysiology, motility, management, and diet. A modified Delphi approach was employed to present and grade the quality of evidence, and determine the level of agreement. Results: We observed that bloating and symptoms associated with meals were prominent complaints among our IBS patients. In the majority of our countries, we did not observe a female predominance. In some Asian populations, the intestinal transit times in healthy and IBS patients appear to be faster than those reported in the West. High consultation rates were observed, particularly in the more affluent countries. There was only weak evidence to support the perception that psychological distress determines health-care seeking. Dietary factors, in particular, chili consumption and the high prevalence of lactose malabsorption, were perceived to be aggravating factors, but the evidence was weak. Conclusions: This detailed compilation of studies from different parts of Asia, draws attention to Asian patients' experiences of IBS. © 2010 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.Mahidol UniversityMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1111/j.1440-1746.2010.06353.x