Relationship between socio-demographic and clinical variables, and health-related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The principal aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic and clinical variables on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This was a cross-sectional study. health-related quality of life was measured with the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). A total of 120 patients, 60 with ulcerative colitis and 60 with Crohn s disease, participated in the study. No significant differences were observed between ulcerative colitis and Crohn s disease patients in IBDQ dimensions. However, a multivariate analysis revealed that sex, type of treatment, extraintestinal symptoms, number of relapses in previous year, satisfaction with surgery, and need for psychological support were related to HRQL. The identification of these variables associated with HRQL in patients with inflammatory bowel disease shows them to be basically non-disease factors. Knowledge of such elements can turn out to be very useful in order to guide future research and modify specific factors in further interventions.