Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2026, Vol. 64 ›› Issue (9): 78-87.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2026.0289

• Public Health and Preventive Medicine • Previous Articles    

Association of early-life exposure factors with irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based cohort study

WANG Xiaohan1,2,3, ZHONG Yang4,5, CHEN Hao4,5, CHONG Wei1,2,3, QIU Chengmiao6, BAI Hao5,6, LYU Ming4,5, LI Leping1,2,3   

  1. 1. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China;
    2. Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Translational Medicine Engineering for Digestive Tumors, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China;
    3. Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University &
    Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, Shandong, China;
    4. Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China;
    5. Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China;
    6. Department of Nutrition, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
  • Published:2026-09-09

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Abstract: Objective To explore the association of early-life exposure factors as well as their weighted risk scores, and the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Methods The present study included a total of 468,709 participants from the UK Biobank, with information on early-life exposures-such as breastfeeding, maternal smoking around birth, multiple birth, adoption during childhood, and birthweight-collected via baseline questionnaire. Following multiple imputation of missing covariates, associations among the variables were assessed using logistic regression models with IBS as the outcome. The initial analysis examined the relationship between each individual early-life exposure and the risk of IBS. Subsequently, breastfeeding, maternal smoking around birth, multiple birth, and birthweight were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. An early-life exposure risk score was then constructed based on the models β coefficients, and its association with IBS risk was evaluated. Results A comprehensive adjustment for covariates revealed that early-life factors, encompassing non-breastfeeding(OR=1.12, 95%CI: 1.08-1.15), maternal smoking around birth(OR=1.11, 95%CI: 1.08-1.14), and low birth weight(OR=1.16, 95%CI: 1.03-1.32)were associated with increased risk of IBS. Furthermore, compared with participants with lower early-life exposure risk score(the lowest quartile, Q1), those with higher scores(the third and fourth quartiles, Q3-Q4)had an 11% and 19% higher risk of IBS, respectively(Q3: OR=1.11, 95%CI: 1.06-1.17; Q4: OR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.14-1.25). Conclusion A higher burden of adverse early-life exposures(indicated by a higher weighted risk score)is associated with a higher subsequent risk of IBS. From an epidemiological standpoint, these findings imply that public health and health promotion strategies targeting early life may have a beneficial effect on reducing the long-term burden of IBS. It is recommended that future research efforts concentrate on establishing the causal relationship between these early-life exposures and IBS.

Key words: Irritable bowel syndrome, Early-life exposures, Weighted risk score, Cohort study, UK Biobank

CLC Number: 

  • R574.4
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