Background Functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs) are the most common digestive system disorders that seriously endanger the health of affected individuals.

Objective To understand the prevalence of FGIDs in long-term ocean voyagers and analyze their influencing factors, in order to provide a scientific basis for formulating FGIDs prevention strategies.

Methods Using cluster sampling method, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among the long distance voyagers of a company in Qingdao within one week after the completion of the voyage in September 2023. The survey used a general information questionnaire to collect demographic data and lifestyle habits, and the Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire for Adults to diagnose FGIDs. The included research subjects were divided into a FGIDs group and a non FGIDs group. Anxiety, depression, sleep, and stress were evaluated using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS). The potential influencing factors of FGIDs were analyzed by logistic regression.

Results A total of 968 subjects were included in the study, and 111 cases suffered from FGIDs, with a prevalence of 11.5% (111/968). There were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the two groups in terms of age, education level, marital status, years of work, annual family income, smoking, drinking, operating post, cumulative number of sea voyages, noise exposure frequency, binge eating frequency, allergy history, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, stress, and daily water intake. The results of logistic regression showed that higher level of education (OR=1.890, 95%CI: 1.208, 2.959), binge eating frequency (OR=2.214, 95%CI: 1.412, 3.474), history of allergies (OR=2.143, 95%CI: 1.229, 3.737), anxiety (OR=1.800, 95%CI: 1.111, 2.916), high psychological stress (OR=1.983, 95%CI: 1.114, 3.530), and being married (OR=1.868, 95%CI: 1.202, 2.905) were positively correlated with FGIDs (P<0.05). Good sleep quality (OR=0.326, 95%CI: 0.201, 0.552) was negatively correlated with FGIDs (P<0.05).

Conclusion Factors such as education level, marital status, allergy history, binge eating frequency, sleep quality, anxiety, and psychological stress may be influencing factors for FGIDs. Early assessment and screening of these influencing factors and targeted preventive measures should be taken to reduce the prevalence of FGIDs among sea voyage staff and alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms.