Quality of life of inflammatory bowel disease at diagnosis in 8 countries in Asia: The ACCESS study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Health-related quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome measure in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). QOL of Asian patients with IBD at presentation has not been studied. AIM: This study evaluates the QOL of IBD patients at diagnosis from an inception cohort across eight countries in Asia. METHODS: Health-related QOL was measured by the validated IBD Questionnaire (IBDQ) in patients with newly diagnosed IBD between 2011 and 2012. Disease activity was assessed by the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index and Harvey-Bradshaw index for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), respectively. Demographic and disease characteristics were recorded. RESULTS: 284 incident IBD cases (CD 93; UC 147; IC 14) were included. Median age was 37 (IQR: 26–49). Median duration from symptom onset to diagnosis was 6 months (IQR:2– 24). Overall mean IBDQ score was 159 ± SEM 2.2 (Remission: IBQ≥170). The median IBDQ Score of South Asians (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka) (150; IQR:117–181) was significantly lower than the Han Chinese (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau) (167; IQR:139–190; p = 0.003). IBD patients with active disease had significantly lower scores for all 4 dimensions of IBDQ (bowel, systemic, emotional and social functions) compared with those in remission (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analyses identified only disease activity index to be associated with variations in QOL (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in QOL between patients with CD, UC or IC (p = 0.403). QOLwas not significantly affected by disease behavior for CD (B1, B2, B3, or perianal) but worsened with increasing mucosal involvement in UC (extensive > distal > proctitis; p = 0.014). QOL score was not affected by employment status, education level or smoking history. CONCLUSION: QOL is impaired in newly diagnosed IBD patients, and varies across ethnic groups in Asia. Active disease and more extensive disease are associated with worse QOL in IBD.