P359 Persistence of severe fatigue in adults with Crohn's disease in remission

Abstract

Abstract Background Fatigue is a frequent manifestation in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including those in remission. The persistence of fatigue over time in inactive disease is not well known. We aimed to determine the prevalence and continuation of severe fatigue at baseline and at 12 months follow-up in a cohort of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) in remission. Methods Adult patients with CD in remission, defined by age ≥18 years, HBI <5 and faecal calprotectin <250mcg/g, were recruited to the INTICO2 observational study. Baseline assessment included SF36, FACIT-F and IBD Control patient-reported outcome measures. After 12 months in routine care, participants were invited to repeat FACIT-F. Severe fatigue was defined as scoring FACIT-F <30. Baseline data was analysed for factors associated with the persistence of severe fatigue at 12 months. Results A total of 198 patients were studied at baseline, of which 141 completed both baseline and 12-month assessments. The correlation between FACIT-F scores at baseline and 12 months was r = 0.79 (p < 0.001). Twenty-five (17.7%) patients were severely fatigued at both baseline and 12-month follow-up, and 99 (72.1%) were not severely fatigued at either time. Of the 34 patients severely fatigued at baseline, 9 (26.5%) were not severely fatigued at 12 months. From the 107 patients who were not severely fatigued at baseline, 12 (7.5%) became severely fatigued at 12 months. Participants with ongoing severe fatigue at baseline and 12 months had significantly worse SF36 Mental Health scores, 64 v 80 (p <0.001), and more night waking due to IBD, 32.0% v 7.1% (p = 0.011), at baseline assessment than those not severely fatigued at either assessment, see Table 1. Eight patients had a clinical disease flare during the 12-month follow-up period. Conclusion Most patients in this cohort in remission continued to have similar fatigue severity at 12-month follow-up. A higher proportion of severely fatigued patients at baseline improved at 12 months than non-severely fatigued patients at baseline developing severe fatigue at 12 months. Factors at baseline associated with persistent severe fatigue were worse mental health and poor sleep secondary to IBD. These may represent areas where intervention could improve reported fatigue levels in remission.