P189 Lifestyle and psychosocial factors in IBD; prevalence and patients’ perspective

Abstract

Abstract Background Lifestyle and psychosocial factors impact mucosal inflammation and subjective well-being in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients. Better understanding of the relevancy of these factors within the IBD population, including prevalence and patients' perspective, may enhance systematic implementation of lifestyle interventions in regular care. This collaborative study with the Dutch patient organisation aimed to estimate the prevalence and patients’ perspectives on lifestyle and psychosocial factors in an outpatient cohort of IBD patients. Methods A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling IBD patients who utilized the remote monitoring platform myIBDcoach in 2022. Patients reported on clinical disease activity, lifestyle and psychosocial factors on this platform. A nationwide online survey was distributed by the Dutch patient organisation for IBD in April 2022 to assess patients’ perspectives regarding the impact of lifestyle and psychosocial factors on intestinal complaints, motivation to make changes, and need for and satisfaction with support in this regard from the hospital. Results In the multicentre myIBDcoach cohort (n=460), 16.3% adhered to a specific diet (Table 1). Two third (67.4%) did not comply with the Dutch healthy exercise norm and smoking was prevalent in 9.3%. About one-third experienced at least regularly poor sleep (33.8%), at least occasionally emotional distress (33.9%), and high perceived stress (36.7%). In the nationwide survey (n=1148), most (58.3-75.7%) patients believed that stress, unhealthy food, poor sleep, minimal or no exercise, and symptoms of anxiety and depression could lead to intestinal complaints (Fig. 1A). Around 70% of patients were taking action or were motivated to do so regarding their diet, stress, and physical activity (Fig. 1B). About 30% had no intention of addressing social support, and 22.8% were unwilling to change their alcohol use. Less than one-fifth received support from the hospital regarding these various factors (Fig. 1C). When support was received, most patients expressed satisfaction. Although desired, approximately 20% lacked support concerning stress, physical activity, diet, and sleep. Conclusion There is considerable scope for improvement in lifestyle and psychosocial factors among individuals with IBD, highlighting the need for systematic integration of these factors into clinical care. From the patient's viewpoint, widespread recognition of the impact of these factors emerged, with most expressing openness to initiating changes across various areas. These insights emphasize the potential for implementing targeted interventions, particularly in areas where patients indicated a need for additional support.