Biological therapy increases the health-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in a clinical setting

Abstract

Objective Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have a considerable impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. We aimed to investigate the effect of biological therapy on HRQoL in IBD patients followed in an out-patient clinical setting and to compare the HRQoL scores to that of IBD patients without disease activity. Materials Observational and retrospective study in patients treated with biologics. A Short Health Scale (SHS) questionnaire on HRQoL consisting of four items (bowel symptoms, interference in daily life, worry, and general well-being) was completed and registered in each patient’s medical journal. Data on HRQoL was collected at the beginning of treatment and every 3 months thereafter. The biologically treated group was compared with a control group of IBD patients without disease activity. Results We identified 114 patients who began a new round of biological treatment. These were either naïve to biologics or had a break in treatment for more 3 months. After 3 months of therapy, significant improvements in HRQoL compared to baseline were observed for every item on the SHS (p value < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed a poorer HRQoL performance in women, patients with Crohn’s disease, and smokers. The median HRQoL score regarding bowel symptoms and interference in daily life was similar to the control group after 6 months of treatment. Conclusion Treatment with biological therapy leads to a statistically and clinically significant improvement in HRQoL in all parameters. After 6 months of treatment, bowel symptoms and interference in daily life were similar to patients without disease activity.