Demographic and Clinical Epidemiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in U.S. Community Health Centers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2022-2023 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent, burdensome gastrointestinal disorder frequently encountered in primary care. However, its demographic and comorbidity patterns in community health center (CHC) settings remain understudied. Objective To examine the demographic and comorbidity-related factors associated with IBS visits among U.S. community health center patients using nationally representative data. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2022-2023 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). Survey-weighted logistic regression was used to assess associations between IBS diagnosis and demographic factors (age, sex, race/ethnicity) and comorbidities (anxiety, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), migraine, chronic pain, diabetes, and hypertension). Results Female sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.84), comorbid anxiety (aOR=1.69), and GERD (aOR=1.77) were significantly associated with higher odds of IBS. Race and ethnicity also showed significant variation, with Black and "Other" race patients having lower odds of IBS. Interestingly, hypertension was inversely associated with IBS (aOR=0.49), suggesting potential differences in clinical presentation or comorbidity clustering. Conclusion IBS in CHC settings is more prevalent among women and those with anxiety or GERD. At the same time, racial disparities and an inverse relationship with hypertension highlight the need for nuanced, patient-centered approaches in primary care.