The influence of demographic and disease-related factors on health-related quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to analyse the health-related quality of life of patients with ulcerative colitis and to assess in what way demographic and disease-related factors influence patients' experiences of this, in order to interpret the results of health-related quality of life assessment more correctly.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional evaluation of 300 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis from the catchment areas of Linköping University Hospital and Orebro University Hospital in Sweden. Health-related quality of life was measured using four questionnaires: the IBDQ, the RFIPC, the SF-36 and the PGWB. Disease activity was evaluated using a one-week symptom diary, blood tests and rigid sigmoidoscopy. Demographic factors (gender, age, civil status, educational level), disease-related factors (disease duration, disease extent, disease activity) and presence of co-morbidity were obtained.


RESULTS
Health-related quality of life was mainly impaired in the psychological and social areas and to a much lesser degree in physical areas. Patients with relapse had significantly more disease-related worries and concerns (the RFIPC), more impaired social functioning (the IBDQ and SF-36), and a lower feeling of well being (the IBDQ, the SF-36 and the PGWB). However, their physical function (SF-36) was no worse than patients in remission. Besides the symptom burden of the current disease, co-morbidity and female gender were associated with a lower health-related quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
To correctly interpret health-related quality of life assessments, it is necessary to consider co-morbidity and gender distribution in addition to the symptom burden of the disease studied.
Hjortswang
Henrik
H
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. Henrik.Hjortswang@lio.se
Järnerot
Gunnar
G
Curman
Bengt
B
Sandberg-Gertzén
Hanna
H
Tysk
Curt
C
Blomberg
Björn
B
Almer
Sven
S
Ström
Magnus
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden