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IBS symptoms and quality of life 59 3 Table 3.3 Clinical characteristics, at baseline and at time of follow-up, of patients who still fulfilled the Rome III criteria for IBS at follow-up (Rome III-positive) and patients who did not (Rome III- negative). Baseline Follow-up FU Rome III-positive IBS patients, N=112 BMI, median kg m -2 (IQR) 23.70 (21.45-28.70) 24.77 (21.92-28.60) ** GSRS, median (IQR) Abdominal pain Reflux syndrome Diarrhea syndrome Constipation syndrome Indigestion syndrome 3.67 (2.33-4.00) 1.50 (1.00-2.75) 3.00 (2.33-4.67) 3.00 (2.33-4.00) 4.00 (3.38-5.00) 3.33 (2.50-4.33) 1.50 (1.00-3.00) 3.33 (1.83-4.67) 3.00 (2.00-4.00) 3.75 (3.00-4.50) HADS, score >8, N (%) Depressive symptoms General anxiety symptoms 20 (19.05) 41 (39.05) 25 (23.81) 31 (29.52) Quality of life, median (IQR) PCS MCS 42.19 (34.36-48.90) 49.58 (37.87-54.96) 45.41 (33.44-48.78) 51.07 (37.57-55.93) FU Rome III-negative IBS patients, N=49 BMI, median kg m -2 (IQR) 24.50 (21.30-28.08) 25.35 (21.68-28.73) GSRS, median (IQR) Abdominal pain Reflux syndrome Diarrhea syndrome Constipation syndrome Indigestion syndrome 2.83 (2.00-3.67) 1.00 (1.00-2.88) 2.83 (1.67-4.25) 2.50 (2.00-3.67) 3.88 (2.75-5.00) 2.33 (1.33-3.00) * 1.50 (1.00-3.00) 1.67 (1.08-3.00) ** 2.00 (1.33-3.00) *** 2.88 (2.25-3.94) *** HADS, score >8, N (%) Depressive symptoms General anxiety symptoms 6 (13.64) 17 (38.64) 7 (15.91) 7 (15.91) ∞ Quality of life, median (IQR) PCS MCS 45.51 (36.32-51.74) 50.68 (41.38-57.44) 48.85 (33.14-52.99) 53.38 (43.89-57.30) N, number of patients included in the analysis; IQR, Inter Quartile Range; BMI, Body Mass Index (kg m -2 ); GSRS, gastrointestinal symptom rating scale; HADS, hospital anxiety and depression scale; PCS, physical quality of life composite summary as assessed by SF-36; MCS, mental quality of life composite summary as assessed by SF-36. Numbers may not add up to total due to missing. *** P <0.001 vs. baseline; ** P <0.005 vs. baseline; * P <0.01 vs. baseline; ∞ P <0.05 vs. baseline. Multivariable regression model No baseline predictors for fulfilling the Rome III diagnosis for IBS at follow-up could be identified with regression analyses. When looking for independent baseline predictors concerning quality of life at follow-up for both groups taken together ( N =161), the combined regression model that included age, gender, baseline GI symptom severity, and baseline anxiety and depression, showed that only younger age ( -0.16, 95% CI -0.26; -0.06, P =0.002) and higher physical quality of life at baseline ( 0.59, 95% CI 0.41; 0.78, P <0.001) predicted higher physical quality of life at follow-up. Likewise, only higher