Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pathogenetic approach to the treatment of functional disorder s of the gastrointestinal tract 
and their intersection: Results of the Russian Observation Retrospective Program COMFORT  
   
Version: 0 Date: 01 Sep 2019  
 
Reviewer: Cristina Stasi  
 
Reviewer's report:   
The study shows a good amount of data about a large cohort of FD and IBS patients and it is 
interesting in its clinical question, but the following points could be clarified to improve the 
presentation of data.  
 
In the abstract please specify the study period.  
 
Introduction  
Some similar studies could be better discussed in the discussion section  
 
Methods  
How many centres have been involved in this observational nonintervention re trospective study 
from November 01, 2017, through March 30, 2018?  
 
The authors should clearly state the diagnostic criteria used for IBS and FD assessment of the 
COMFORT program  
 
The authors should clearly report the eligibility criteria (inclusion and exc lusion criteria)  
 
Results  
Was there any potential systematic bias in the selection of the 9,254 of the 14,362 total?  
 
Discussion  
The Authors should describe the limitations of the study allows the reader to better understand 
the results.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well des cribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions draw n adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend addition al statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript : 
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding , or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organ  isation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the  publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, writ e 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as  confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pathogenetic approach to the treatment of functional disorder s of the gastrointestinal tract 
and their intersection: Results of the Russian Observation Retrospective Program COMFORT  
   
Version: 0 Date: 01 Sep 2019  
 
Reviewer: Cristina Stasi  
 
Reviewer's report:   
The study shows a good amount of data about a large cohort of FD and IBS patients and it is 
interesting in its clinical question, but the following points could be clarified to improve the 
presentation of data.  
 
In the abstract please specify the study period.  
 
Introduction  
Some similar studies could be better discussed in the discussion section  
 
Methods  
How many centres have been involved in this observational nonintervention re trospective study 
from November 01, 2017, through March 30, 2018?  
 
The authors should clearly state the diagnostic criteria used for IBS and FD assessment of the 
COMFORT program  
 
The authors should clearly report the eligibility criteria (inclusion and exc lusion criteria)  
 
Results  
Was there any potential systematic bias in the selection of the 9,254 of the 14,362 total?  
 
Discussion  
The Authors should describe the limitations of the study allows the reader to better understand 
the results.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well des cribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions draw n adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend addition al statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript : 
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding , or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organ  isation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the  publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, writ e 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as  confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pathogenetic approach to the treatment of functional disorder s of the gastrointestinal tract 
and their intersection: Results of the Russian Observation Retrospective Program COMFORT  
   
Version: 0 Date: 01 Sep 2019  
 
Reviewer: Cristina Stasi  
 
Reviewer's report:   
The study shows a good amount of data about a large cohort of FD and IBS patients and it is 
interesting in its clinical question, but the following points could be clarified to improve the 
presentation of data.  
 
In the abstract please specify the study period.  
 
Introduction  
Some similar studies could be better discussed in the discussion section  
 
Methods  
How many centres have been involved in this observational nonintervention re trospective study 
from November 01, 2017, through March 30, 2018?  
 
The authors should clearly state the diagnostic criteria used for IBS and FD assessment of the 
COMFORT program  
 
The authors should clearly report the eligibility criteria (inclusion and exc lusion criteria)  
 
Results  
Was there any potential systematic bias in the selection of the 9,254 of the 14,362 total?  
 
Discussion  
The Authors should describe the limitations of the study allows the reader to better understand 
the results.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well des cribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions draw n adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend addition al statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript : 
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding , or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organ  isation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the  publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, writ e 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as  confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant