Quality of Life (QOL) in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Abstract

Purpose: The internet is increasingly used to recruit and evaluate pts with a variety of disorders. Internet-based studies allow access to potentially large samples but no data exist comparing OLR and CL pts with similar GI disorders. We conducted a preliminary assessment of QOL in pts with active IBD and IBS recruited from a gastroenterology clinic and online. Methods: Pts were recruited from a university GI clinic and several online sites (IBSgroup; Healingwell; Northwestern Center for Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders). The diagnosis of IBD and IBS was confirmed for CL pts, but OLR were self-identified. For this pilot study, type and extent of IBD were not ascertained. Respondents completed the SF-36 and the IBS-QOL. While the IBS-QOL is regarded as condition-specific for IBS, it correlates highly with the IBDQ (r = −0.83) and has been used in IBD populations (Clin Gastro Hepatol 2006;4:474). Results: At the time of abstract submission, the IBD group included 48 CL pts and 71 OLR. The IBS group included 135 CL pts and 47 OLR. IBD CL and OLR groups did not differ by age (mean ± SDEV: 38 ± 13 vs. 40 ± 12; p= 0.55). IBD OLR were more likely to be female (59F/12M vs. 29F/19M; p= 0.01). IBS CL and OLR groups also did not differ by age (37 ± 13 vs. 38 ± 12; p= 0.45). IBS OLR were more likely to be male (37F/14M vs. 126F/23M; p= 0.06). For both IBS and IBD, OLR had clinically and statistically significantly poorer QOL as measured on all scales of the SF-36 and IBS-QOL. Total IBS-QOL and SF-36 Mental and Physical Component Summaries (MCS and PCS) scores are shown in the Figure. For SF-36, lower values equate with poorer QOL while higher values indicate poorer QOL for the IBS-QOL. Differences were maintained when the analysis was controlled for gender.FigureConclusions: For both IBS and IBD, OLR had significantly poorer QOL. These preliminary data demonstrate that OLR may represent a clinically distinct population requiring further characterization particularly with respect to healthcare utilization and gender differences. Data obtained from online surveys may not generalize to broader clinical populations. [figure 1]