Racial differences in the impact of irritable bowel syndrome on health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the impact of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on health related quality of life (HRQOI) for non-white and white IBS patients.


BACKGROUND
There are no reported data evaluating the HRQOL of non-white persons with IBS.


METHODS
SF-36 scores are compared between non-white IBS patients (n = 166), white IBS patients (n = 707), the general US population, and patients with selected chronic diseases.


RESULTS
Of the n = 166 non-white IBS patients included for analysis, 66 (40%) described themselves as African-American, 56 (34%) as Hispanic, 25 (15%) as Asian-American, 2 (1%) as Native American and the remaining 17 (10%) as "other." Compared with white IBS patients, non-white IBS patients reported similar decrements in their HRQOL after controlling for age, gender, income and education level. On all 8 SF-36 scales, non-white IBS patients had significantly worse HRQOL compared with the general US population, (P < 0.001). Compared with GERD patients, non-white IBS patients scored significantly lower on all SF-36 scales (P < 0.001) except physical functioning. Similarly, non-white IBS patients had significantly worse HRQOL on selected SF-36 scales compared with diabetes mellitus and ESRD patients. Non-white IBS patients had significantly better emotional well-being than depressed patients, (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Non-white IBS patients experience impairment in vitality, role limitations-physical, and bodily pain. Yet overall, non-white IBS patients report similar HRQOL to white IBS patients. These data provide the first detailed evaluation of the impact of IBS on HRQOL in non-white IBS patients.
Gralnek
Ian M
IM
VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA, USA. igralnek@mednet.ucla.edu
Hays
Ron D
RD
Kilbourne
Amy M
AM
Chang
Lin
L
Mayer
Emeran A
EA
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data