OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to analyse the health-related quality of life of patients with ulcerative colitis and to assess in what way demographic and disease-related factors influence patients' experiences of this, in order to interpret the results of health-related quality of life assessment more correctly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional evaluation of 300 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis from the catchment areas of Linköping University Hospital and Orebro University Hospital in Sweden. Health-related quality of life was measured using four questionnaires: the IBDQ, the RFIPC, the SF-36 and the PGWB. Disease activity was evaluated using a one-week symptom diary, blood tests and rigid sigmoidoscopy. Demographic factors (gender, age, civil status, educational level), disease-related factors (disease duration, disease extent, disease activity) and presence of co-morbidity were obtained. RESULTS: Health-related quality of life was mainly impaired in the psychological and social areas and to a much lesser degree in physical areas. Patients with relapse had significantly more disease-related worries and concerns (the RFIPC), more impaired social functioning (the IBDQ and SF-36), and a lower feeling of well being (the IBDQ, the SF-36 and the PGWB). However, their physical function (SF-36) was no worse than patients in remission. Besides the symptom burden of the current disease, co-morbidity and female gender were associated with a lower health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: To correctly interpret health-related quality of life assessments, it is necessary to consider co-morbidity and gender distribution in addition to the symptom burden of the disease studied.
OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to analyse the health-related quality of life of patients with ulcerative colitis and to assess in what way demographic and disease-related factors influence patients' experiences of this, in order to interpret the results of health-related quality of life assessment more correctly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional evaluation of 300 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis from the catchment areas of Linköping University Hospital and Orebro University Hospital in Sweden. Health-related quality of life was measured using four questionnaires: the IBDQ, the RFIPC, the SF-36 and the PGWB. Disease activity was evaluated using a one-week symptom diary, blood tests and rigid sigmoidoscopy. Demographic factors (gender, age, civil status, educational level), disease-related factors (disease duration, disease extent, disease activity) and presence of co-morbidity were obtained. RESULTS: Health-related quality of life was mainly impaired in the psychological and social areas and to a much lesser degree in physical areas. Patients with relapse had significantly more disease-related worries and concerns (the RFIPC), more impaired social functioning (the IBDQ and SF-36), and a lower feeling of well being (the IBDQ, the SF-36 and the PGWB). However, their physical function (SF-36) was no worse than patients in remission. Besides the symptom burden of the current disease, co-morbidity and female gender were associated with a lower health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: To correctly interpret health-related quality of life assessments, it is necessary to consider co-morbidity and gender distribution in addition to the symptom burden of the disease studied.
Authors: Akbar K Waljee; Peter D R Higgins; Jennifer F Waljee; Shannan R Tujios; Aditi Saxena; Lindsay K Brown; Meghana N Chaudhary; Arden M Morris Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2011-03-01 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Anilga Tabibian; James H Tabibian; Linda J Beckman; Laura L Raffals; Konstantinos A Papadakis; Sunanda V Kane Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2015-01-06 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Aaron Yarlas; Martha Bayliss; Joseph C Cappelleri; Stephen Maher; Andrew G Bushmakin; Lea Ann Chen; Alireza Manuchehri; Paul Healey Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2017-08-28 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Johanna Haapamäki; Ulla Turunen; Risto P Roine; Martti A Färkkilä; Perttu E T Arkkila Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2009-07-23 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Åsa H Everhov; Gustaf Bruze; Jonas Söderling; Johan Askling; Jonas Halfvarson; Karin Westberg; Petter Malmborg; Caroline Nordenvall; Jonas F Ludvigsson; Ola Olén Journal: J Crohns Colitis Date: 2021-06-22 Impact factor: 9.071