The impact of ulcerative colitis on patients' lives compared to other chronic diseases: a patient survey.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to identify the impact chronic ulcerative colitis (UC) has on the lives of patients compared to other chronic conditions. Overall, 451 patients with UC, 309 with rheumatoid arthritis, 305 with asthma, and 305 with migraine headaches were recruited in an Internet survey designed to assess a variety of disease-impact indices.


RESULTS
Patients with UC reported a mean of eight (self-defined) flare-ups in the previous 12 months. Significantly more patients with UC (81%) believed that the quantity of flare-ups they experienced was 'normal', compared to patients with migraine headaches (64%) or asthma (75%). Patients with UC also reported significantly more worry about disease complications (84%), depression (62%), and embarrassment (70%) than patients with the other chronic conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to patients with other chronic conditions, patients with UC perceive substantially more negative impact upon their lives, especially with regard to the psychological burden.
Rubin
David T
DT
Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 4076, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. drubin@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Dubinsky
Marla C
MC
Panaccione
Remo
R
Siegel
Corey A
CA
Binion
David G
DG
Kane
Sunanda V
SV
Hopper
Joseph
J
D000041:Absenteeism; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult