title: Patients with Crohn's disease experience reduced general health and vitality in the chronic stage: ten-year results from the IBSEN study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data on the long-term effects of Crohn's disease (CD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is scarce. We aimed to determine the HRQoL in CD patients 10 years after disease onset, to compare the results to the general population and to identify variables that could affect HRQoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  CD patients from a population-based inception cohort (the IBSEN Study) met at a prescheduled ten-year follow-up. In addition to a structured interview, review of hospital records, clinical examination, laboratory tests and ileocolonoscopy, they completed a patient-reported questionnaire including the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Norwegian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (N-IBDQ). The SF-36 scores were compared to scores from the general population using one-sample t-tests. Standardized scores were calculated and interpreted according to Cohen's effect size index. The associations between relevant clinical and demographic factors and HRQoL were examined through linear regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-nine patients completed the HRQoL questionnaires (response rate 86%). Median age 39 years, 42% women. Compared to the general population the patients reported significantly lower SF-36 scores on the general health and vitality dimensions. IBDQ total scores were in line with scores of patients in remission. Except for current symptom severity no clinical parameters affected HRQoL scores. Work status and sick leave affected HRQoL negatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this chronic stage of CD, reduced general health and vitality scores need attention while reductions in disease specific HRQoL seem to be less predominant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. marte.hoivik@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Marte Lie
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Høivik
authors.forename: Tomm
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bernklev
authors.forename: Inger Camilla
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Solberg
authors.forename: Milada
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cvancarova
authors.forename: Idar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lygren
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jahnsen
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003424:Crohn Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult