Observational study reveals substantial quality-of-life reductions and multisystem comorbidities in inflammatory bowel disease, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary care.
Key Points
To evaluate the relationship between comorbid diseases, extraintestinal manifestations, and health-related quality of life across specific domains in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Examined 248 hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (117 with Crohn's disease and 131 with ulcerative colitis) alongside 82 healthy controls in Ivano-Frankivsk.
Assessed health-related quality of life using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and quantified comorbid conditions using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale and Charlson Comorbidity Index.
IBDQ scores were significantly reduced in Crohn's disease (119.3±10.48; 39.9% reduction) and ulcerative colitis (127.4±8.3; 35.9% reduction) compared to healthy controls (198.5±12.6; p<0.001), with the largest deficits in systemic and social domains.
Comorbidities were present in 73% of Crohn's disease patients and 82% of ulcerative colitis patients, with mental and vascular disorders predominating in ulcerative colitis.
The Charlson Comorbidity Index was significantly higher in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis (3.14±0.27 vs. 2.93±0.14; p≤0.005), denoting a worse overall prognosis.