Bethesda, MD (July 29, 2025) — A new international study confirmed a significant post-pandemic rise in disorders of gut-brain interaction, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia, according to the paper published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Building on prior research , investigators used Rome Foundation diagnostic tools to analyze nationally representative samples from both 2017 and 2023 — offering the first direct, population-level comparison of disorders of gut-brain interaction prevalence before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key findings:
- Overall disorders of gut-brain interaction rose from 38.3% to 42.6%.
- IBS jumped 28%, from 4.7% to 6%.
- Functional dyspepsia rose by nearly 44%, from 8.3% to 11.9%.
- Individuals with long COVID were significantly more likely to have a disorder of gut-brain interaction and reported worse anxiety, depression, and quality of life.
This is the first population-level study to directly compare rates of disorders affecting gut-brain interaction before and after the pandemic, using a consistent methodology. It adds weight to growing calls for updated care models and more research into the gut-brain axis in the post-COVID era.
More information on IBS and dyspepsia is available on the AGA GI Patient Center:
