Introduction/Objective. The objective was to explore whether there is a
difference in headache manifestation and level of its intensity in patients
with functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. Methods. We assessed
a cohort of N=420 participants out of which N=300 satisfied presence of
irritable bowel syndrome (148) or functional dyspepsia (152) as a recruiting
criterion. Diagnoses of irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia
were made according to Rome IV criteria. Intensity of headaches was estimated
in irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia participants using
visual-analog scale. All patients underwent subsequent testing by Hamilton's
depression inventory and anxiety scale. Results. Our results showed that
males with headaches are more susceptible to functional dyspepsia,
statistical significance in the group of patients with irritable bowel
syndrome with high scores visual analog scales, in relation of Hamilton?s
anxiety scores in the group of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Gender
and visual analogue scale scores were determinants to show whether the
patient falls within the group of functional dyspepsia or irritable bowel
syndrome. Scores of visual analogue scale where the patient felt the best was
statistically borderline (p = 0.061) and its higher values pinpointed which
of those patients fall into irritable bowel syndrome group. Conclusion.
Gender and level of headache intensity as a extraintestinal manifestation
showed to be the main variables to make a difference between patients with
functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome where irritable bowel
syndrome had higher scores and greater dominance in differential diagnosis if
the headache was determining variable.