Intest Res.  2017 Jul;15(3):338-344. 10.5217/ir.2017.15.3.338.

Impact of inflammatory bowel disease on daily life: an online survey by the Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases

• Kim YS
• Jung SA
• Lee KM
• Park SJ
• Kim TO
• Choi CH
• Kim HG
• Moon W
• Moon CM
• Song HK
• Na SY
• Yang SK
• Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases (KASID)

• KMID: 2382377
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2017.15.3.338

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disabling gastrointestinal disorder that diminishes the quality of life of the affected individuals. Limited data are available regarding the impact of IBD on the daily life of Koreans.
METHODS
Self-administered, computer-aided, internet-based questionnaires were distributed to members of a Korean patient organization for IBD from March to April 2013, by the Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases.
RESULTS
A total of 599 patients with IBD (387 with Crohn's disease [CD] and 212 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) were enrolled. The majority of patients (81%) expressed feelings of fatigue, weakness, and being worn out in their daily lives during times of flare; this percentage was reduced to 61% during remission. Respondents were absent from work or school for an average period of 18 days because of illness, within the first 6 months; the majority of respondents (64%) felt stressed about their absence. Forty-six percent of the respondents reported having received unfair comments at work, or having suffered discrimination. Forty-seven percent of the respondents felt that IBD had negatively affected their income and earnings. Compared with patients with UC, those with CD reported a more frequent negative impact of IBD on work, or more economic burden. More than half of the respondents (61%) reported that IBD had prevented them from making or keeping friends.
CONCLUSIONS
IBD significantly impacts daily life, including work, education, and social relationships. Treatment that addresses the full spectrum of life of a patient would be more effective.

Keyword

Inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn disease; Colitis, ulcerative; Quality of life; Surveys and questionnaires

MeSH Terms

Colitis, Ulcerative
Crohn Disease
Discrimination (Psychology)
Education
Fatigue
Friends
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases*
Intestinal Diseases*
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with IBD. aP <0.05, compared with patients with UC.

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