New report shines light on disconnect between patient and physicians when it comes to the seriousness of IBS,[1] leading to slow diagnosis[2]

• Report investigates hidden burden of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on quality of life and sets out recommendations for improving care

TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - The recently published "IBS Global Impact Report: Uncovering the true burden of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on people's lives" finds that IBS can have a profound effect on one's quality of life.³ Yet, almost 70 per cent of patients will live with their symptoms for up to a year before seeking medical help,⁴ and even then, Canadians can wait up to four years to receive a diagnosis.⁵

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IBS is a chronic functional bowel disease that affects four to six million Canadians.⁶ It is characterized by symptoms of abdominal pain and/or discomfort associated with altered bowel habits, in the absence of a structural or organic cause.^7,8,9

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Canadian Findings from the IBS Global Impact Report The report explored the impact of IBS on daily life, the stigma and psychological challenges associated with it, the patient journey and emerging clinical best practices.

• 32% of survey respondents agreed that 'healthcare professionals do not take IBS seriously'¹⁰ 
• On average it can take up to four years to receive an IBS diagnosis¹¹ and 67 per cent of patients will experience symptoms for up to a year before seeking help¹²
• 46% of Canadians living with IBS reported missing school or work due to their symptoms¹³
• 32% of Canadian patients with IBS either 'always', or 'often' experience limitations to their social activities in an average month¹⁴
• 47% of Canadians with IBS report they spend more than $150 per month on their IBS treatments¹⁵
• As many as 26% of Canadian IBS patients admit they can only afford some of the IBS treatments prescribed to them, while 16% say they cannot afford their medications at all¹⁶
• 25% of survey respondents agreed that their HCP should spend more time on educating 'me' about my IBS.¹⁷

"Throughout my career I have seen first-hand the impact that this condition can have on a patient's ability to maintain a good quality of life. IBS has the potential to affect every aspect of one's life, including personal, work, financial, and overall well-being," said Gail Attara, chief executive officer, Gastrointestinal Society, and report steering committee member. "Findings from the IBS Global Impact report shine a much-needed light on the gravity of irritable bowel syndrome and demonstrates the need for a fundamental shift in how we treat and support Canadians who are  living with IBS."

Led by a Steering Committee of international experts from gastroenterology and patient advocacy, and funded and supported by Allergan, the report draws upon international patient testimonies, patient surveys and published literature. In addition to highlighting the hidden impact of IBS, the report also sets out a series of recommendations to bring about positive change for people with IBS, focusing on these key areas:  

• Improving communication with people with IBS
• Driving early diagnosis of IBS
• Developing simple, pragmatic guidance for IBS management.

Together with a framework of patient rights that form the basis of a patient charter, the recommendations provide a roadmap to achieving the Steering Committee's Vision: for the universal management and care of those with IBS to be consistent and effective.

Underpinning the recommendations, the report highlights key areas of emerging best practice and points to practical tools to support improved management of IBS. It recommends the use of Drossman's 15-point plan for effective patient and physician communication¹⁸ and a recently published simplified algorithm to guide early, positive diagnosis of IBS and to drive effective management approaches, tailored to individuals' symptoms and needs.¹⁹

"The development of forward-looking recommendations stemming from the IBS Global Impact report is welcomed news for the millions of Canadians living with IBS," said Dr. James Gray, gastroenterologist, faculty of medicine University of British Columbia. "It's important the medical community recognizes the widespread impacts this condition can have on our patients. I am hopeful that through the implementation of a patient charter we will improve how we identify, treat and manage this condition."

Note to Editors:

About the IBS Global Impact Initiative and IBS Global Impact ReportThe IBS Global Impact Report 2018 follows the IBS Global Impact Report 2016, which investigated the individual, societal and healthcare burden of IBS globally.²⁰ This report found that IBS places a significant burden on society due to direct and indirect healthcare costs, and it highlighted that despite its global prevalence of around 11 per cent, IBS does not receive the attention it deserves.²¹ Finally, it aimed to stimulate discussion on how people with IBS may receive better management to improve outcomes.²²

The IBS Global Impact Report 2018 report looks beyond an investigation into the impact of IBS on daily life to wider aspects, including the impact on psychological well-being and of stigma and attitudes about IBS. In addition, it explores the challenges faced by people with IBS in navigating complex healthcare systems to seek appropriate support and management.

About IBS in CanadaIBS is a chronic functional bowel disorder characterised by symptoms of abdominal pain and altered bowel habit (constipation and diarrhea), in the absence of structural or biochemical abnormalities that are detectable with the current routine diagnostic tools.^23,24,25 It is the most common condition diagnosed by gastroenterologists and is one of the most common conditions seen by primary care physicians.^26,27 Although the exact cause of IBS is not known,²⁸ symptoms are thought to result from a disturbance in the way the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system interact.²⁹

Despite the impact that IBS has on quality of life, 40 per cent of Canadian patients do not seek medical help³⁰ and many turn to a wide variety of over-the-counter medications and pain relievers with little success.³¹

About Allergan plc Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model – Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories. Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, a model of research and development, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. With this approach, Allergan has built one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry. Allergan's success is powered by our global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right. With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day. For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective on existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; the impact of uncertainty around timing of generic entry related to key products, including RESTASIS®, on our financial results; uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected cost reductions, projected synergies, restructurings, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2017. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

References

¹ Törnblom H, Emmanuel A, Goosey R, et al. Understanding Symptom Burden and Attitudes in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: Results from a Patient Survey. Gastroenterology. 2017;152(5):S745-S46.²American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). IBS in America. Summary Survey Findings 2015³ The Hidden Costs: The Economic Impact of IBS. GI Society. Available at: http://www.badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/hidden-costs-of-ibs. Last accessed March 17, 2107.⁴ American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). IBS in America. Summary Survey Findings 2015.⁵ American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). IBS in America. Summary Survey Findings 2015.⁶ The Hidden Costs: The Economic Impact of IBS. GI Society. Available at: http://www.badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/hidden-costs-of-ibs. Last accessed March 17, 2107.⁷ Chey 2. Enck P, Aziz Q, Barbara G, et al. Irritable bowel syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:16014.⁸ WD, Kurlander J, Eswaran S. Irritable bowel syndrome: A clinical review. JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-58.⁹ Lacy BE, Mearin F, Chang L, et al. Bowel Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016a;150:1393-407.¹⁰ Törnblom H, Emmanuel A, Goosey R, et al. Understanding Symptom Burden and Attitudes in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: Results from a Patient Survey. Gastroenterology. 2017;152(5):S745-S46.¹¹ American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). IBS in America. Summary Survey Findings 2015.¹² American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). IBS in America. Summary Survey Findings 2015.¹³ Gastrointestinal Society 2016 Survey Results Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). All data. 2016.¹⁴ Gastrointestinal Society 2016 Survey Results Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). All data. 2016.¹⁵ Gastrointestinal Society 2016 Survey Results Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). All data. 2016.¹⁶ Gastrointestinal Society 2016 Survey Results Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). All data. 2016¹⁷ Törnblom H, Emmanuel A, Goosey R, et al. Understanding Symptom Burden and Attitudes in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: Results from a Patient Survey. Gastroenterology. 2017;152(5):S745-S46.¹⁸ Drossman DA. Helping your patient by helping yourself: how to improve the patient-physician relationship by optimizing communication skills. Am J Gastroenterol. 2013;108(4):521-8.¹⁹ Moayyedi P, Mearin F, Azpiroz F, et al. Irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis and management: A simplified algorithm for clinical practice. UEG Journal. 2017;0(0):1-16.(in press)²⁰ Allergan. IBS Global Impact Report 2016. INT/0567/2016. Date of Preparation: October 2016.²¹ Ibid. ²² Ibid. ²³ Chey WD, Kurlander J, Eswaran S. Irritable bowel syndrome: A clinical review. JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-58.²⁴ Enck P, Aziz Q, Barbara G, et al. Irritable bowel syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:16014.²⁵ Lacy BE, Mearin F, Chang L, et al. Bowel Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016a;150:1393-407.²⁶ Chey WD, Kurlander J, Eswaran S. Irritable bowel syndrome: A clinical review. JAMA. 2015;313(9):949-58.²⁷ American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). Irritable Bowel Syndrome 2017. Available from: http://patients.gi.org/topics/irritable-bowel-syndrome/ Last accessed September 2017.²⁸ Sainsbury A and Ford A. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: beyond fibre and antispasmodic agents. Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology. 2011;4(2):115-27. ²⁹ Saha L. Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759-73.³⁰ IBS Awareness Month. GI Society. Available at: http://www.badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/ibs-awareness/. Last accessed April 7, 2017 ³¹ GI Society. 2016 Survey Results; Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Available at: http://www.badgut.org/wp-content/uploads/IBS-Survey-Results-2016.pdf. Last accessed April 11, 2017

SOURCE Allergan