Approved Research

Common risk factors and prognosis of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome

Lay summary

Aims: Our study aims to investigate potential risk factors and prognosis of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome diseases. Scientific rationale: These two categories of diseases affect a large and growing population worldwide. However, the potential lifestyle and environment risk factors are not exactly clear until now. Current studies suggest that some lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity, may play an important role in the development of these two categories of diseases. Meanwhile, the prognosis of these two categories of diseases, especially the long-term prognosis is still lack of evidence. Whether inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome diseases are associated with increased risk of multiple health-related outcomes, such as cancer, metabolic diseases, mental disorders and mortality, is still needed to investigate and assess in the large-scale, prospective, long-term cohort study. Project duration: This complicated project includes several independent analyses. We expect to achieve some initial milestones in the next 3 years. Public health impact: Our study may promote public health policy priorities by focusing on common lifestyle and environment risk factors of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome diseases. Evidences on the risk factors and prognosis of these diseases may inform healthcare providers to ensure the long-term survival of those patients, and inspires new clinical practices in disease treatment.