title: Gender and disease activity influence health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Measurement of health related quality of life (HRQoL) is a new tool to evaluate patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aims of this study were to verify reliability and responsiveness of a disease-specific questionnaire [Italian Questionnaire on Quality of Life (IQQoL)], and to assess the relationship between clinical and demographic variables and HRQoL in IBD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The IQQoL was submitted to all IBD patients consecutively seen at eight participating Hospitals, and re-administered at follow-up visits. The IQQoL covers intestinal and systemic symptoms, emotional and social function. The higher the score, the worse the HRQoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  249 patients were enrolled, 106 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 143 with ulcerative colitis (UC). IQQoL was re-administered to 134 patients: 98 with unchanged, 17 with worsened and 19 with improved disease activity. The IQQoL was stable over time in patients with stable clinical conditions, and very responsive to change both in patients with improved and worsened disease activity. HRQoL was inversely correlated with disease activity, both in CD and UC. Perception of HRQoL was significantly worse in women than in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IQQoL is a reliable and responsive instrument to assess HRQoL in IBD patients. Active disease is related to poor HRQoL perception. In CD, women, mainly if young, have a worse HRQoL perception than men.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Service, University of Milan, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saibeni
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cortinovis
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beretta
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatarella
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferraris
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rondonotti
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corbellini
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bortoli
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Costanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvisi
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Imperiali
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Franchis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*