Effects Of Illness Research Articles

Regional Healthcare Situation and Needs of Former SARS-CoV-2 Infected Persons in the Hanseatic City of Lübeck - Results of a Population Survey

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to health impairments lasting over several months, the so-called Post-COVID syndrome (PCS). In order to better understand and assess the regional care situation with the acute COVID-19-disease/PCS, possible consequences of illness and current needs, a survey was conducted among the population of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. The survey also analysed the distribution of PCS and the burden of disease in the sample. Cross-sectional survey between September and November 2023 in the Hanseatic City of Lübeck using an online survey. Individuals over 18 years of age who were registered with the Lübeck residents' registration office and who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 at least once in the past were included. Questions were asked about the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, the last illness, vaccinations and medical services used. Quality of life, impairment of participation, comorbidity and socio-demographic data were also recorded. The presence of PCS was assessed using self-report (yes/no) and a symptom-based scale (PCS score). Treatment preferences were also collected. After checking the inclusion criteria, questionnaire data were available from 619 people; 66.2% of respondents were female and the mean age was 47 years. Most people had last contracted SARS-CoV-2 in 2022 and 2023. 54% (N=332) of respondents considered themselves to have PCS and reported more symptoms (6 vs. 2; p<0.01), higher participation limitations (39.9 vs. 7.2; p<0.01) and poorer quality of life (45 vs. 70; p<0.01) than people who did not consider themselves to have PCS. Medical services related to SARS-CoV-2 infection/PCS were used statistically significantly more by people with PCS. However, only 2.4% of people with PCS were satisfied with their current care situation. A number of wishes were expressed, such as better information from physicians (70%) or a website (67%) with information on regional care services for PCS. People with PCS reported a high burden of disease and were affected by a range of symptoms at the time of the survey. The degree of restrictions in light of the wishes suggest that medical and therapeutic care should be optimised for those affected and that awareness and networking among practitioners should be strengthened.

Evaluation of the Pregnancy to Parenthood program: A dyadic intervention for mothers with perinatal mental disorders and their infants.

Dyadic interventions targeting maternal mental health and the mother-infant relationship in the perinatal period are critical due to the potential consequences of perinatal mental illness and relational disturbance for the mother, the infant, and their family. This paper describes the Pregnancy to Parenthood (P2P) model of care, a dyadic mother-infant community-based program designed to support vulnerable families in Western Australia in the context of an identified need to build workforce capacity. A pragmatic service evaluation study was conducted by analyzing routine clinical data collected from 105 dyads who completed pre- and post-intervention measures, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS), and the Mother Object Relations Scale-Short Form (MORS-SF). Reliable change index and cut-off analyses indicated a clinically reliable pre-post reduction in perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms for 71% and 68% of the sample, respectively. Significant pre-post improvements with medium effect sizes (r=-.46, r=-.32) were found for caregiving representations on the MORS-SF, suggesting representations became more balanced. These results provide provisional evidence that the P2P model of care may be effective in improving maternal mental health and caregiving representations. Further research is required to evaluate the efficacy of P2P in relation to enhancing family well-being, and to inform policy and mental health service development.

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

BackgroundSurvivors of critical illness are susceptible to long-term functional impairments following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in patients admitted to ICU with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2. The long-term consequences of critical illness due to COVID-19 illness remain unclear. Research QuestionTo determine the long-term outcomes of adult patients admitted to ICU for COVID-19. Study Design and MethodsWe searched Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE using subject heading and free-text terms related to long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19. We included all articles that reported original data on outcomes from 90 days onwards for adult patients admitted to ICU for COVID-19. Data extracted included study details, patient characteristics, outcomes reported, measurement tools used and timing of assessment. ResultsA total of 14,882 studies were screened, from which 134 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Follow-up timepoints ranged from 90 days to 2 years following critical illness. Post-hospital mortality was the most reported outcome (n=60), with the general ICU cohort having an aggregate mortality rate of 35.5% (95% CI 34.7-36.2) at 90 days and 31.6% (95%CI 30.9-32.4) at 6 months. A plethora of other outcomes were assessed, including psychological function/mental health (n=49), persistent symptoms (n=47), quality of life (n=47), physical function (n=33) and cognitive function (n=31). For each outcome, different measurement tools were employed, making data synthesis across studies difficult. InterpretationImportant evidence gaps remain regarding the long-term health outcomes and healthcare needs for survivors of critical COVID-19 illness. This review found that mortality was the most reported long-term outcome. Significant heterogeneity was evident across studies in terms of outcomes assessed, measurement instruments used and the duration of follow-up. Future research requires increased consistency in outcomes assessed and measurement tools to inform clinical practice.

Investigating nonlinear associations between neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio and cardiovascular disease: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

While the negative consequences of particular illnesses have been associated with the neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio (NPAR), its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still lacking in the broader public. This study examines the relationship between NPAR and CVD prevalence using information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), with particular attention to potential nonlinear associations. This analysis included 26,225 adults from NHANES 2011–2020. We investigated the association between NPAR levels and CVD using weighted generalized linear models, subgroup analysis, threshold effects, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and sensitivity analysis. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess potential nonlinearity in the NPAR-CVD association. Elevated NPAR levels were significantly associated with increased CVD prevalence (P < 0.001). In model 3, individuals in the highest NPAR quartile had a 46% greater CVD prevalence compared to those in the lowest quartile [OR: 1.46 (1.16, 1.83), P = 0.002], a finding consistent across unweighted logistic regression models. This association remained unchanged by various factors (P > 0.05). While restricted cubic spline analysis indicated potential nonlinearity, it did not significantly improve model fit over the linear model (P > 0.05). This study identifies a significant association between NPAR and CVD prevalence among the broader populace, suggesting the potential influence of inflammation on cardiovascular disease.

Characteristics, Complications, and Outcomes of Critical Illness in Patients with Parkinson Disease.

Adults with Parkinson disease (PD) are hospitalized at higher rates than age-matched controls, and these hospitalizations are associated with significant morbidity. However, little is known about the consequences of critical illness requiring intensive care unit (ICU)-level care in patients with PD. The aim of this study was to define the characteristics and outcomes of adults with PD admitted to the ICU. We performed a retrospective nested case-control study using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV data set. Adults with PD were identified, and the index ICU admission for these subjects was matched 1:4 with index ICU admissions without a PD diagnosis based on age, sex, comorbidities, illness severity, ICU type, and need for mechanical ventilation. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and discharge location. Secondary outcomes were length of stay and prespecified complications. A total of 630 adults with PD were identified. Patients with PD were older and were more likely to be male, have more comorbidities, and have higher illness severity at presentation. A matched analysis revealed adults with PD did not have a significant difference in in-hospital mortality but were more likely to be discharged to ahigher level of care. Adults with PD had longer hospital lengths of stay and increased odds of delirium, pressure ulcers, and ileus. During critical illness, patients with PD are at increased risk for longer hospital lengths of stay and complications and require a higher level of care at discharge than matched controls. These findings reveal targets for interventions to improve outcomes for patients with PD and may inform discussions about goals of care in this population.

Impact of a pharmacist-led intervention on prostate cancer illness perception.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Illness perception (IP) significantly determines illness outcomes. This study determined the impact of a pharmacist educational intervention on IP in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and predictors of IP. Using a brief IP questionnaire, an interventional study of patients with PCa was conducted in all cancer reference hospitals in one Nigerian state. After a pre-post assessment of patients' IP, descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. The impact of pharmacists' intervention on IP was determined by paired-sample statistics and correlation analysis at the 95% CI. Relationships and predictors of IP were determined using Kendall's tau-b (τb), likelihood ratio, and F tests of equality of means, respectively. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Pharmacists' educational intervention significantly improved IP (SEM, 0.13; r = 0.875; P < 0.0001) among the 200 participants. The analyses also showed a significant paired sample difference (2.662; SEM, 0.06; 95%CI, 2.536-2.788; t = 41.69; df = 199; P < 0.0001). All subscales of patients' IP significantly improved except for illness consequences (P = 0.173) and identity (mean [SD], 4.40 [3.730] in both pre- and postintervention assessments). Pre- and postintervention assessments showed a significant negative relationship of IP with age (τb = -110 [P = 0.040] and τb = -14 [P = 0.021], respectively), Gleason score (τb = -0.125 [P = 0.021] and τb = -0.124 [P=0.012], respectively), and age at diagnosis (τb = -0.103 [P = 0.036] post intervention). IP was significantly dependent on the drug therapy (df = 8; mean square [M] = 6.292; F = 2.825; P = 0.006), alcohol intake (df = 1; M = 9.608; F = 4.082; P = 0.045) and Gleason score (df = 9; M = 6.706; F = 3.068; P = 0.002). Patients' IP significantly improved after pharmacists' educational intervention. Predictors of IP were drug therapies, alcohol use and Gleason score. Findings can be extrapolated in clinical settings to improve treatment outcomes.

Rotavirus Sickness Symptoms: Manifestations of Defensive Responses from the Brain.

Rotavirus is infamous for being extremely contagious and for causing diarrhea and vomiting in infants. However, the symptomology is far more complex than what could be expected from a pathogen restricted to the boundaries of the small intestines. Other rotavirus sickness symptoms like fever, fatigue, sleepiness, stress, and loss of appetite have been clinically established for decades but remain poorly studied. A growing body of evidence in recent years has strengthened the idea that the evolutionarily preserved defensive responses that cause rotavirus sickness symptoms are more than just passive consequences of illness and rather likely to be coordinated events from the central nervous system (CNS), with the aim of maximizing the survival of the individual as well as the collective group. In this review, we discuss both established and plausible mechanisms of different rotavirus sickness symptoms as a series of CNS responses coordinated from the brain. We also consider the protective and the harmful nature of these events and highlight the need for further and deeper studies on rotavirus etiology.

On the ability of the SF-6D to capture the consequences of chronic illnesses on subjective well-being: Evidence from France

Using cross-sectional data from a representative sample of the French population (the 2008 Disability Health survey), this paper examines whether the SF-6D, a widely used preference-based measure of health-related quality of life in economic evaluations, fully captures the variation in subjective well-being (SWB) due to chronic illnesses. We conduct a mediation analysis to disentangle the direct and indirect, through the SF-6D, effects of various chronic conditions on SWB (happiness). Our results show that the SF-6D reflects changes in happiness due to most illnesses except mental illness. Changes in SWB mediated by the SF-6D account for 74% of the total effect. The variation unexplained by the SF-6D is significant and increases substantially in the presence of multimorbidity when a chronic illness is combined with anxiety or depression. Overall, our results suggest that the SF-6D incompletely captures the subjective experience of chronically ill patients, especially those with comorbid conditions.

The University Teachers’ Perceptions of their Family Illness Affect Students’ Motivation and Interest in their Studies

This research delves into the intricate interplay between parents' illness and its impact on the well-being and academic interests of their children. As health is a cornerstone of family dynamics, understanding the consequences of parental illness on students becomes imperative. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive insights. The research examines the psychological and emotional dimensions of students facing parental illness, investigating the potential correlations with changes in academic motivation and engagement. Through a diverse sample representing various socio-economic backgrounds and educational levels, the study aims to provide a nuance understanding of the multifaceted aspects of this phenomenon. Additionally, the research explores the support mechanisms available to students coping with parental illness, both within and outside the educational context. Identifying coping strategies and resilience factors becomes crucial in formulating recommendations for educators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to enhance the overall well-being and academic performance of students in these challenging circumstances. The findings of this study contribute to the growing body of literature on the intersectionality of health, family, and education. By shedding light on the often-overlooked consequences of parental illness on student life, this research seeks to inform interventions and support systems that can mitigate the negative effects and foster a conducive learning environment for students facing such challenges. Ultimately, this exploration aims to promote a holistic approach to education that recognizes and addresses the diverse needs of students navigating the complexities of familial health crises.

Self-Management Programs and the Pursuit of Behavior Change.

A self-management intervention is a personalized approach to individuals aiming to engage individuals in a behavior change to develop skills to live better with their condition. Self-management involves an iterative process between participants and providers in which goals are formulated and feedback is given. All respiratory societies advocate self-management as part of chronic care because it may improve quality of life and health-care utilization. Self-management is an integral part of pulmonary rehabilitation. Self-management interventions usually involve education and exercise prescription, and that is an asset of current programs; however, recent reports indicate that effective strategies for motivation and a behavior change focus are often missed. A recent systematic review on self-management urges the need for a specific aspect and characteristic of self-management interventions: iterative interactions between participants and health-care professionals competent in using behavior change practices to elicit participants' motivation, confidence, and competence to develop skills to better manage their disease. A recent review of self-care intervention in chronic disease states that the major deficits found in self-care interventions included a lack of attention and/or innovation to the psychological consequences of chronic illness, technology, and behavior change techniques to help patients manage symptoms. There is a need for exploration of mechanisms to explain the relationships between both anxiety and depression, and adherence to treatment in COPD. The latter is particularly appropriate for pulmonary rehabilitation, for which greater adherence is needed. This report aims to introduce basic aspects of behavior change and a proposed roadmap to introduce behavior change into pulmonary rehabilitation and chronic care programs.

Mucopolysaccharidoses from the perspective of patients and family members

The aim of this study was to understand the impacts of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), a group of hereditary metabolic diseases with a chronic and progressive course, on children diagnosed with this condition and their family members. It is a qualitative research conducted with six children and five accompanying family members who attend the Reference Center for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (CETREIM). Data collection occurred through sociodemographic questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews, recorded in audio and subsequently submitted to Content Analysis technique. The results indicate the presence of three main thematic axes: 1) Discovery and understanding of the diagnosis; 2) Repercussions and consequences of illness; 3) Coping strategies. The results highlight the ways in which children and family members define, interpret, and take positions regarding this diagnosis, indicating reverberations in the social and psychological spheres of different orders in these two groups, emphasizing that the rupture with normality permeates the condition of subject and identity, being marked by the repercussions of the disease and diagnosis.

Diagnosis of pneumonia in paediatric age group by comparing two modalities chest x-ray versus ultrasonography at tertiary care hospital

: Up to 20 million cases of pneumonia in children ages 0 to 5 years require hospitalization each year, from total 150 million cases of pneumonia. The most common cause of death in children worldwide is pneumonia. Due to the general non-specificity of the signs and symptoms, clinical history and physical examination cannot reliably distinguish between the causes of respiratory cases. As a result, accurate diagnosis frequently requires medical imaging, but two-thirds of the world's population lack access to diagnostic imaging, which lead to increasing the consequences of respiratory illnesses. : To know the characteristic of pneumonia in x-ray and ultrasonography. To compare X-ray chest and USG for early diagnosis. : A Prospective observational study was conducted among 100 paediatric patients diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted in paediatric ward, at New Civil Hospital, Surat. : Out of total, 52.7% and 47.3% patients were Males and Females, respectively. 87.2% cases were fully immunized, while remaining were partially immunized. Sensitivity and specificity of chest X-ray is 83.4 % and 86.8 % respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of USG thorax is 96.8 % and 90.5 % respectively. Young children are at least four times more susceptible to radiation damage than adults.: In comparison to chest radiography, lung ultrasound has the potential advantages of being more sensitive and specific, radiation-free, subject to less regulatory constraints, relatively less expensive so it can be used in diagnosis in patients with pneumonia.

Hepatotoxicity assessment of innovative nutritional supplements based on olive-oil formulations enriched with natural antioxidants.

This study focuses on the assessment of extra virgin olive-oil and olive fruit-based formulations enriched with natural antioxidants as potential nutritional supplements for alleviating symptoms and long-term consequences of illnesses whose molecular pathophysiology is affected by oxidative stress and inflammation, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Besides evaluating cell viability and proliferation capacity of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells exposed to formulations in culture, hepatotoxicity was also considered as an additional safety measure using quantitative real-time PCR on RNA samples isolated from the cell cultures and applying approaches of targeted molecular analysis to uncover potential pathway effects through gene expression profiling. Furthermore, the formulations investigated in this work contrast the addition of natural extract with chemical forms and evaluate the antioxidant delivery mode on cell toxicity. The results indicate minimal cellular toxicity and a significant beneficial impact on metabolic molecular pathways in HepG2 cell cultures, thus paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies using olive-oil and antioxidants in dietary supplements to minimize the long-term effects of oxidative stress and inflammatory signals in individuals being suffered by disorders like AD. Overall, the experimental design and the data obtained support the notion of applying innovative molecular methodologies and research techniques to evidently advance the delivery, as well as the scientific impact and validation of nutritional supplements and dietary products to improve public health and healthcare outcomes.

An Analysis on Mental Health Issues among Individuals

Mental health is the state of well-being of a person through which he can provide an effective contribution to the society. Mental health is also linked with psychological and mental well-being. A person's capacity to be healthy enough mentally and emotionally so that he or she may make a positive contribution to society is an indicator of that person's mental health. It is of the utmost significance that we give equal attention to both our bodily and mental wellness. Depression is considered as one of the main causes which affects the mental health of the people. The study of mental illnesses, which may manifest itself in a variety of ways depending on the affected person, is an extremely relevant field of research in the modern world. Alterations in a person's mental health may also occur throughout the course of their lifetime. This research paper is qualitative study on the mental health issues of the people and to find the overall status of the mental health of the people. In this study, I will interact with about 100 respondents thereabout their mental health and related concerns and then analyse and explain the results in depth. This research paper focused on mental distress or mental illness by studying the mental health of the people. The main aim of the study is to support these issues to be spoken openly because people are still sacred to discuss their mental health and want to make a change from mental illness to mental wellbeing and to find the root cause and consequences of the mental illness.

Neurological conditions and subsequent divorce risk in the Nordic countries: the importance of gender and both spouses’ education

BackgroundPrior studies suggest that poor physical health, accompanied by functional disability, is associated with increased divorce risk. However, this association may depend on gender, the socioeconomic resources of the couple,...

Malnutrition among under-five children in Nepal: A focus on socioeconomic status and maternal BMI

IntroductionMalnutrition stands as the primary contributor to morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five. Nepal, situated in South Asia and classified as a low-income country, grapples with a significant malnutrition challenge. The elevated rates of malnutrition in Nepal are further compounded by its unfavorable socio-economic conditions, limited access to healthcare, poor maternal nutritional status, food insecurity, poor hygienic conditions, and geographical challenges. The consequences of mortality and illness associated with malnutrition directly undermine human capital and economic productivity. The main aim of the study is to determine the risk factors associated with stunting, underweight and wasting among under five children in Nepal. Subjects & methodsNepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016 (NDHS) data was used for the study. The outcome measures were stunting, underweight and wasting. Predictor variables were categorized as mother, child and household related factors. The association between malnutrition and predictor variables were assessed by multivariate logistic regression using Stata 16.0 software and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval was reported. ResultsA total of 2381 children under five years were included in this study for analysis. The magnitude of stunting (36%) was higher than underweight (27%) and wasting (10%) among under five children. Children from middle and rich households were 49% (OR = 0.51; 95%CI = 0.37–0.71) and 47% (OR = 0.53; 95%CI = 0.36–0.74) less risk of being stunted than children from poorest households. The odds of a child to be stunted was 1.6 times higher in those children living with 3–4 children than children with 1–2 children in their families (OR = 1.6; 95%CI = 1.24–2.07). Mother's BMI in category of normal (OR = 0.56; 95%CI 0.42–0.75) and overweight (OR = 0.30; 95%CI = 0.19–0.47) and larger birth spacing (OR = 0.53; 95%CI 0.36–0.74) were significantly associated with underweight and stunting among children, respectively. ConclusionIn Nepal, the problem of malnutrition among under five children is still high (36% of stunting and 10% of wasting). The study suggests that target-based approach and interventions should be administered for children from socio-economically deprived areas. Strategies should focus on preconceptions and the mother's nutritional status.

Zoonotic Diseases: A Changing Landscape Demands Global Action

During recent years, the globe-wide zoonotic disease landscape has evolved drastically posing significant challenges to the health of the individual and environmental sustainability. Zoonotic illnesses, which occur in animals and are transmission-capable to people, have been an ever-present risk throughout history. According to the “World Health Organization (WHO)”, an estimated 60% of known infectious diseases and around 75% of new or emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin. These illnesses have the potential to inflict widespread morbidity and mortality, along with severe economic losses. However, today's dynamics of our changing environment, which include urbanization, climate change, and growing human-animal interaction, are increasing the probability of zoonotic spillover occurrences. (1) The worldwide spread of the consequences of zoonotic illnesses underscores the critical need for collective effort through international leadership frameworks integrating government, private industry, and civil society. “The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA)” and the WHO are collaborating on projects to address these concerns and improve global health security. The WHO launched the "One Health Joint Plan of Action," which intends to inscribe health hazards to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. It emphasizes the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health. (2)

Mental Illness Leading to Homelessness in Adolescents and Reintegration with Families: A Case Series of Three Adolescent Girls

Individuals with poor mental health often find themselves vulnerable to a myriad of factors such as poverty, social disadvantage, lower level of education, abuse, and personal vulnerability. For these reasons, they struggle to secure stable housing, which leads to a cycle of persistent poverty. In this background, we present a series of three adolescents who succumbed to homelessness due to their mental illnesses and subsequent social situations. The three adolescent girls were rescued by child welfare committees with the help of police and brought to the hospital. The challenges faced by the treating team included a lack of caregivers, difficulty in ruling out any sexual abuse, dealing with different jurisdictions, financial limitations of parents to travel long distances, COVID restrictions across states, and mental illness of patient impairing capacity. This also delayed their rehabilitation and prolonged hospital stay. We can conclude that clinicians should focus on stopping the vicious cycle at the earliest so that the long‐term consequences of mental illness, as well as homelessness, can be avoided. The current imperative is to establish a secure setting for children while also facilitating early detection and intervention for mental health issues, with a particular focus on homeless children.

Design and rationale of the Post-Intensive Care Syndrome – paediatrics (PICS-p) Longitudinal Cohort Study

IntroductionAs paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mortality declines, there is growing recognition of the morbidity experienced by children surviving critical illness and their families. A comprehensive understanding of the adverse...

P256 Relationship and sexuality in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: results from a patient questionnaire

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life has been studied for almost 30 years in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). However, the knowledge concerning consequences of illness like fatigue, psychological illness, and relationship and sexuality is still sparse. The aim of this study was to gather more information about the IBD patient´s view concerning relationship and sexuality and how patients experience the support and help from the healthcare professionals. Methods A questionnaire was sent digitally to all members with an IBD diagnosis in the Swedish patient association. The questionnaire contained seven questions. Four of them concerned background data (age, gender, diagnosis, IBD-surgery). The final three questions concerned relationships and sexuality and were qualitatively analyzed with content analysis. Results Out of 2274 patients who received the questionnaire, a total of 556 answered (24%). The median age was 55 years of age, 69% were women, 46% had ulcerative colitis, 45% Crohn´s disease, 6% microscopic colitis, and 3% had a mixed form. A total of 36% had undergone surgery due to IBD. Question 5: "What kind of problems have you experienced regarding relationships and sexuality?" A total of 78% stated some kind of problem. The most common physical problems were pain (14%), incontinence/urgency (11%), and gas/bloating (9%). The most frequent psychological problems were fear of leakage (13%), decreased sexual drive (11%), and loss of energy (8%). Several patients described that their sexual life always needed to be carefully planned, and some described that they avoided having a partner because of difficulties to initiate relationships. Question 6: "What kind of help and support from the healthcare do you want?" A total of 64% wished that healthcare professionals raised questions concerning relationships and sexuality as an equal natural part as the rest of health status. Question 7: "Have you spontaneously raised questions concerning relationships and sexuality in your contacts with healthcare professionals?" A total of 84% answered no. Reasons stated were that it was felt uncomfortable, embarrassing, due to lack of time and that other concerns were prioritized. Some patients expressed that they had no contact with their healthcare center at all. Conclusion A total of 78% of the patients answering this questionnaire acknowledged that they experienced physical issues and fears concerning relationships and sexuality, mostly due to pain and leakage. A more active support was wanted from 64% of the patients, but only 14% had themselves raised the topic to health care professionals. More knowledge and awareness concerning relationships and sexuality are needed to ensure person-centered care for all IBD-patients.