What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to assess the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among the Chinese population and understand its regional variations.

March 29, 2026SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología0 citationsOpen Access

Map the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome across China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

DTDi TianShaanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine XLXinyu LiuShaanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine HQHuixia QiaoAffiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine

Key Points

The aim is to assess the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among the Chinese population and understand its regional variations.
Conducted a systematic search of Chinese and international databases for observational studies on IBS prevalence.
Included 65 studies with quality assessment by two independent reviewers.
Applied random-effects meta-analyses and random-intercept logistic regression models.
Performed subgroup analyses based on sex, age group, and IBS subtype.
The pooled prevalence of IBS in China was found to be 11.0%.
Prevalence in men was 9.0% and in women was 11.1%, with no significant difference between sexes.
The highest prevalence was in adults aged 18-59 years at 12.0% and was rare among children at 1.4%.
IBS subtypes showed similar prevalence rates: IBS-C (3.9%), IBS-D (4.3%), IBS-M (3.0%), and IBS-U (2.7%).

Abstract

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. However, its prevalence varies substantially across countries and regions, reflecting heterogeneity in diagnostic approaches, study populations, and cultural factors. In China, which has the world’s largest population, the true burden of IBS remains uncertain. A comprehensive synthesis of prevalence estimates is needed to inform public health strategies and clinical care. Methods We systematically searched Chinese and international databases from inception to August 2025 to identify observational studies reporting IBS prevalence in Chinese populations. Eligible studies were assessed for quality and extracted independently by two reviewers. Random-effects meta-analyses using logit transformation and random-intercept logistic regression models were applied. Subgroup analyses by sex, age group, and IBS subtype were performed. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I 2 statistic and tau 2 . Results A total of 65 studies (37 in Chinese and 28 in English) involving 197,764 participants and 23,341 IBS cases were included. Studies covered 23 provinces, with a concentration in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hubei, while no prevalence data were available for several regions including Hunan, Tianjin, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. The pooled prevalence of IBS in China was 11.0% (95% CI 9.0–13.4), with substantial heterogeneity ( I 2 = 99.4%). Sex-stratified analyses showed prevalence estimates of 9.0% (95% CI 6.8–11.8) in men and 11.1% (95% CI 8.1–14.9) in women, with no significant difference between sexes ( p = 0.29). By age, prevalence was highest in adults aged 18–59 years (12.0, 95% CI 9.6–14.9), lower in the elderly (8.2, 95% CI 5.1–13.0), and rare among children (18 years: 1.4, 95% CI 0.2–11.4). Subtype analysis showed comparable prevalence across IBS-C (3.9%), IBS-D (4.3%), IBS-M (3.0%), and IBS-U (2.7%). Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis reveals that IBS affects approximately 1 in 10 Chinese adults, with considerable variation across regions and subgroups. The findings highlight the need for nationally representative studies, standardized diagnostic criteria, and targeted health policies to address the burden of IBS in China.

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