Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure worldwide; however, the possible long-term consequences have not been fully explored. The tonsils are secondary lymphoid tissue providing a defensive barrier against pathogens. There are few data in the literature on the relationship between p...

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Main Authors: Meng-Che Wu, Kevin Sheng-Kai Ma, Yu-Hsun Wang, James Cheng-Chung Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238242
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author Meng-Che Wu
Kevin Sheng-Kai Ma
Yu-Hsun Wang
James Cheng-Chung Wei
author_facet Meng-Che Wu
Kevin Sheng-Kai Ma
Yu-Hsun Wang
James Cheng-Chung Wei
author_sort Meng-Che Wu
collection DOAJ
description Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure worldwide; however, the possible long-term consequences have not been fully explored. The tonsils are secondary lymphoid tissue providing a defensive barrier against pathogens. There are few data in the literature on the relationship between prior tonsillectomy and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of developing IBS in patients who underwent tonsillectomy using a nationwide longitudinal population-based cohort. We identified 1300 patients with tonsillectomy and 2600 matched controls from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Research Database of the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Propensity score analysis was used for matching age, gender, comorbidities, medications, and index year at a ratio of 1:2. Multiple Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio of IBS. Furthermore, sensitivity tests and a stratified analysis were conducted. The incidence of IBS was 3 per 1,000 person-years in tonsillectomy patients, which was higher than the rate of 1.8 per 1,000 person-years found in non-tonsillectomy patients. After adjustment for patients' age, gender, comorbidities, and medications, patients who underwent tonsillectomy had a 1.84-fold risk of developing IBS compared to those without tonsillectomy (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]:1.84; 95% CI, 1.09-3.09). Stratified analysis revealed that a higher adjusted HR of 3.79 (95% CI, 1.35-10.64) in patients ≥50 years old, and there was a marginally significantly higher adjusted HR of 1.98 (95% CI, 0.99-3.95) of developing IBS when the follow-up period was longer than 3 years. Tonsillectomy was associated with a higher risk of developing IBS. Physicians should provide appropriate monitoring of IBS in patients undergoing tonsillectomy.
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spelling doaj.art-98789cd3d21040ccb84fdcfdf3dbccab2022-12-21T19:17:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-01159e023824210.1371/journal.pone.0238242Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.Meng-Che WuKevin Sheng-Kai MaYu-Hsun WangJames Cheng-Chung WeiTonsillectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure worldwide; however, the possible long-term consequences have not been fully explored. The tonsils are secondary lymphoid tissue providing a defensive barrier against pathogens. There are few data in the literature on the relationship between prior tonsillectomy and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of developing IBS in patients who underwent tonsillectomy using a nationwide longitudinal population-based cohort. We identified 1300 patients with tonsillectomy and 2600 matched controls from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Research Database of the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Propensity score analysis was used for matching age, gender, comorbidities, medications, and index year at a ratio of 1:2. Multiple Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio of IBS. Furthermore, sensitivity tests and a stratified analysis were conducted. The incidence of IBS was 3 per 1,000 person-years in tonsillectomy patients, which was higher than the rate of 1.8 per 1,000 person-years found in non-tonsillectomy patients. After adjustment for patients' age, gender, comorbidities, and medications, patients who underwent tonsillectomy had a 1.84-fold risk of developing IBS compared to those without tonsillectomy (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]:1.84; 95% CI, 1.09-3.09). Stratified analysis revealed that a higher adjusted HR of 3.79 (95% CI, 1.35-10.64) in patients ≥50 years old, and there was a marginally significantly higher adjusted HR of 1.98 (95% CI, 0.99-3.95) of developing IBS when the follow-up period was longer than 3 years. Tonsillectomy was associated with a higher risk of developing IBS. Physicians should provide appropriate monitoring of IBS in patients undergoing tonsillectomy.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238242
spellingShingle Meng-Che Wu
Kevin Sheng-Kai Ma
Yu-Hsun Wang
James Cheng-Chung Wei
Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.
PLoS ONE
title Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.
title_full Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.
title_fullStr Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.
title_full_unstemmed Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.
title_short Impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study.
title_sort impact of tonsillectomy on irritable bowel syndrome a nationwide population based cohort study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238242
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