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Irritable Bowel Syndrome leads to more than 5,000 hospital admissions a year, new report shows

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13 April 2012

*Regional data available on request from this publication

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) led to more than 5,000 hospital admissions in England in 2011 – with women accounting for 70 per cent of such admissions - Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) figures show.

IBS is a common condition of the digestive system and can cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. Its symptoms can vary in severity from one person to another. However, it is not dangerous and does not increase the likelihood of the sufferer developing cancer.8

New figures from the HSCIC’s Hospital Episodes Statistics show between January and December 2011:

  • There were 5,370 admissions for IBS – a fall of almost two per cent on the previous 12 months (5,470).
  • The 40-to-44 age group accounted for the highest number of admissions of any five year age group (580, or just under 11 per cent of all admissions for IBS).

HSCIC’s chief executive Tim Straughan said: “The severity of IBS can vary from one person to another and this report shows that some cases require an admission to hospital.

“Gender figures show that hospitals are seeing a far bigger number of female admissions come through their doors for this condition, with women accounting for 70 per cent of admissions for IBS in 2011.”

The report is available via: www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/provisionalmonthlyhes

ENDS

  1. HSCIC was previously known as the NHS Information Centre. It is England’s authoritative, independent source of health and social care information. It works with a wide range of health and social care providers nationwide to provide the facts and figures that help the NHS and social services run effectively. Its role is to collect data, analyse it and convert it into useful information which helps providers improve their services and supports academics, researchers, regulators and policymakers in their work. The HSCIC also produces a wide range of statistical publications each year across a number of areas including: primary care, health and lifestyles, screening, hospital care, population and geography, social care and workforce and pay statistics.
  2. HES provisional monthly data can be used for high level, aggregate analysis demonstrating approximate trends in activity. Lower level analysis should be approached with caution as not all activity will be correctly processed until the final annual data is produced. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage of data recorded (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer included in admitted patient HES data.
  3. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The HSCIC liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Figures refer to recorded admissions and are reliant upon the accurate and complete recording of cause of hospital admission.
  4. Today’s press release focuses on a special topic which is part of a wider monthly publication of all provisional inpatient, outpatient and a&e activity in NHS hospitals in England. The publication includes provisional monthly data for April to December 2011 and final data for all months to March 2011
  5. The primary diagnosis code listed for irritable bowel syndrome on www.hesonline.nhs.uk is K58.
  6. Please note that these data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion.
  7. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
  8. This paragraph is taken from NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx).
  9. For media enquires please call 0845 257 6990 or email mediaenquiries@ic.nhs.uk

 

 

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