Meta-Analysis: Chronic Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Comorbidities in Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders.
Dmitrii Kulin, Gerald Holtmann, Thomas Fairlie et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis evaluated the prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and comorbidities in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). Analyzing data from 19 studies involving 17,455 hEDS/HSD patients, it found that 65.3% reported at least one chronic GI symptom, with an odds ratio of 4.29 for chronic GI symptoms compared to controls.
Key findings
- 65.3% of hEDS/HSD patients reported at least one chronic GI symptom.
- The odds of chronic GI symptoms in hEDS/HSD patients were 4.29 times higher than in controls.
- 44.2% of hEDS/HSD patients had disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI).
- 49% of hEDS/HSD patients experienced chronic fatigue as a common comorbidity.
Why it matters
Understanding the high prevalence of chronic GI symptoms and associated comorbidities in hEDS/HSD patients is crucial for clinicians. This knowledge can guide comprehensive management strategies and improve patient outcomes by addressing both gastrointestinal and extraintestinal issues.
What to keep in mind
The quality of evidence is low due to significant clinical heterogeneity in the analyses.