Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is known to affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but the determining factors in pediatric patients remain unclear.

Objective: To describe HRQoL in IBD patients and assess its relationship with demographic and clinical factors.

Patients and Method: Multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in Santiago, Chile. It included patients aged 8 to 18 years, with at least 6 months of diagnosis, under outpatient follow-up, and able to independently complete the questionnaire. The IMPACT-III questionnaire was used, with higher scores (maximum = 100) indicating better HRQoL, along with a clinical and demographic survey.

Results: The study included 39 patients, with a mean age of 13.7 years. 23 (59%) were female, 33 (84%) had ulcerative colitis, and 6 (16%) had Crohn’s disease. 16 (41%) were on biologic therapy. 28 patients were in clinical remission, 10 had mild disease activity, and 1 had moderate disease activity. The mean HRQoL score was 67.02 (SD ± 14.87), with emotional functioning being the most affected domain. Males had an HRQoL of 71 vs 63 (p = 0.08) compared to females, with a significant difference in the well-being domain. No correlations were found between disease duration, fecal calprotectin levels, and HRQoL. There was no difference between patients with or without biologic therapy.

Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to improve HRQoL in pediatric IBD patients, especially in females. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying factors contributing to this disparity and to develop personalized treatment strategies.