Open AccessHealth‐related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease in a Danish population‐based inception cohort
Author(s) -
Christiansen Lea K,
Lo Bobby,
Bendtsen Flemming,
Vind Ida,
Vester-Andersen Marianne K,
Burisch Johan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ueg journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 2050-6414
pISSN - 2050-6406
DOI - 10.1177/2050640619852532
Subject(s) - medicine , inflammatory bowel disease , quality of life (healthcare) , ulcerative colitis , cohort , population , disease , sick leave , cohort study , crohn's disease , physical therapy , environmental health , nursing
Background Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are associated with reduced health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), but findings differ between studies. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of disease activity and social factors on HRQoL. Method A total of 513 patients diagnosed with UC and CD between 2003 and 2004, in a population‐based setting, were followed for 7 years. HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form‐12, the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Questionnaire (SIBDQ), the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health and a national health survey. Associations were assessed using multiple linear regressions. Results A total of 185 of the eligible patients (UC: 107 (50.2%) and CD: 78 (50.3%)) were included. No differences in disease‐specific or generic HRQoL were found between CD and UC patients, and IBD patients did not differ compared with the background population. The majority of CD (73.1%) and UC (85.0%) patients had ‘good’ disease‐specific HRQoL using the SIBDQ. Unemployment for ≥ 3 months occurred more in CD vs UC patients(30.6 vs 15.5%, p = 0.03); however, sick leave for ≥ 3 months did not differ significantly (17.4 vs 11.4%, p = 0.4). Using multiple linear regressions, unemployment, sick leave and disease activity were the factors most frequently associated with reduced HRQoL. Conclusion In a population‐based cohort with 7 years of follow‐up, HRQoL did not differ between patients and the background population.