Int J Gen Med. 2021 Apr 21;14:1457-1468. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S274568.eCollection 2021.

Sarah Patel ^1 2, Bethany Doerfler ³, Katerine Boutros ⁴, Samson Ng ⁴, Machelle Manuel ⁵, Elayne DeSimone ⁶

Author information

• ¹Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
• ²Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
• ³Division of Gastroenterology, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
• ⁴Global Medical Affairs Gastroenterology & Hepatology, AbbVie Inc, Madison, NJ, USA.
• ⁵Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA.
• ⁶Community Volunteers in Medicine, West Chester, PA, USA.

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) are two common disorders of gut-brain interaction. Affected patients often first present to their primary care providers seeking care for symptoms of constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating, which have a significant impact on their health-related quality of life. These patients often require extensive counseling and reassurance, and knowledge of reliable diagnostic criteria and treatment options is imperative to managing their conditions. Family medicine practitioners, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are uniquely qualified to provide a diagnosis and safe, effective management of these disorders. This article reviews the latest evidence and provides practical advice related to diagnosis and management of IBS-C and CIC.