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Observational Study
. 2022 May 27;22(1):315.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03378-z.

Prevalence and risk factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders in Vietnamese infants and young children

Loo Wee Chia #  1   2 , Thi Viet Ha Nguyen #  3 , Van Nha Phan  3 , Thi Thao Nguyen Luu  3 , Gia Khanh Nguyen  4 , Serene Yaling Tan  5   6 , Shaman Rajindrajith  7 , Marc Alexander Benninga  8
Affiliations
Observational Study

Prevalence and risk factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders in Vietnamese infants and young children

Loo Wee Chia et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common early in life. The prevalence of FGIDs varies among countries but is unknown in Vietnam. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of FGIDs in healthy Vietnamese infants and young children.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study involving healthy infants and young children between 0 - 48 months old in Hanoi, Vietnam. A representative total of 1511 subjects completed the validated questionnaire on paediatric FGIDs. Rome IV criteria were used to define FGIDs.

Results: For Vietnamese infants (0-6 months) and young children (7-48 months), the prevalence of having at least one FGID was 10.0% and only 0.6% was having more than one FGID. Infantile regurgitation (9.3%) was the most prevalent FGID among infants 0-6 months of age while all other FGIDs had a low prevalence between 0-2.5%. For young children between 7 - 48 months old, functional constipation was the most common disorder at the rate of 5.6%. Association analysis revealed that the risk of infant regurgitation was significantly lower among infants with exclusively breastfeeding at 2 - 3 months and 3 - 4 months, formula initiation at 0 - 1 months, and higher paternal education level. The prevalence of functional constipation was significantly higher in male subjects, children in families with annual household income between 273,000,000 - 546,999,999 VND (or estimate around 11,800 - 23,800 USD), families with one child only, and formula feeding initiation at 1 - 2 months.

Conclusions: The prevalence of FGIDs in Vietnamese infants and young children is relatively low compared to the published literature using Rome IV diagnostic criteria. Infantile regurgitation was the most common FGID in Vietnamese infants while functional constipation was most prevalent among Vietnamese young children.

Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Registry Identifier: NL7286/NTR7495 .

Keywords: Colic; Constipation; Diarrhoea; Dyschezia; Paediatric; Regurgitation; Rome IV; Toddler.

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Conflict of interest statement

LWC and SYT are current paid employees of FrieslandCampina. MAB received honorarium from FrieslandCampina that was paid to his institution. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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