Continuing Medical Education Questions: May 2023

Abstract

Article Title: Linaclotide Reduced Response Time for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation Symptoms: Analysis of Four Randomized Controlled Trials

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

After this activity, the participant will be able to understand the variability in response time for individual irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) symptoms following linaclotide use from the analysis of clinical trial data.

QUESTION 1

According to this study, which of the following statements is correct about patients with IBS-C with late response to linaclotide (improvement in abdominal pain ≥30% and achievement of complete spontaneous bowel movements [CSBM] of ≥3/week between 4 and 12 weeks of linaclotide use)?

1. Approximately 1 in 4 patients and 1 in 8 patients are late responders for abdominal pain and CSBM, respectively
2. Approximately 1 in 5 patients and 1 in 4 patients are late responders for abdominal pain and CSBM, respectively
3. Approximately 1 in 6 patients and 1 in 10 patients are late responders for abdominal pain and CSBM, respectively
4. Approximately 1 in 10 patients and 1 in 6 patients are late responders for abdominal pain and CSBM, respectively

QUESTION 2

Based on this study, which of the following statements is correct?

1. The majority of patients are White women
2. Men are more likely to have an earlier response to individual IBS-C symptoms
3. Asians are more likely to be early responders for individual IBS-C symptoms
4. The majority of patients are late responders for individual IBS-C symptoms

QUESTION 3

Which one of the following groups of IBS-C patients is likely to respond late or not respond to linaclotide?

1. White women with lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score
2. Asian men with higher HADS score
3. White women with less severe baseline abdominal symptoms
4. White men with higher baseline CSBM frequency