The Digestive Health among Participants of the Woodstock Rock Festival in Poland—A Cross-Sectional Survey

• Main Authors: Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka, Ewa Stachowska, Dominika Maciejewska, Karina Ryterska, Joanna Palma, Maja Czerwińska-Rogowska, Mariusz Kaczmarczyk, Anna Gudan, Honorata Mruk, Barbara Świniarska, Justyna Kałduńska, Zofia Stachowska, Przemysław Mijal, Tomasz Mazur, Maciej Kupczyński, Wojciech Marlicz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-10-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: microbiota; digestive health; defecation; stress; functional gastrointestinal disorders; FGIDs
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/10/2256

Alterations of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier and the gut-brain axis may be involved in pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of digestive tract symptoms and identify common variables potentially disrupting the gut-brain axis among participants of the Woodstock Festival Poland, 2017. In total 428 people filled in a questionnaire assessing health of their digestive tract. The investigator collected answers on an electronic device, while the study participant responded using a paper version of the same questionnaire. Liver and gallbladder related symptoms were the most prevalent among our study group (n = 266, 62%), however symptoms related to altered intestinal permeability were found to be the most intensive complaints. In females the intensity of gastrointestinal complaints was higher compared to men (p < 0.05), as well as the incidence of factors with the potential to alter gut-brain axis (p < 0.0001). Chronic psychological distress, intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, were the most common associations with gastrointestinal symptoms, which were the most prevalent in females. Further attention should be focused on stress as one of the main factors negatively influencing public health.