title: Restorative proctocolectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis: a cross-sectional Danish population study on function and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study evaluated function and quality of life (QoL) in all patients having restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) in Denmark for ulcerative colitis (UC) from 1980 to 2010. Inclusion of all patients in one country has never previously been achieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who had had a RPC in Denmark, from the first case in 1980 to the last case in 2010, were studied. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed, and function and QoL were assessed using a standardized questionnaire - the Short-Form 36 (SF36) - and the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median duration of follow up was 11 (range, 1-30) years. Apart from deaths, pouch failures and research protection, data on function and QoL were obtained from 1047 (85%) of 1229 patients who had a functioning pouch at the time of the investigation. More female patients than male patients experienced urgency (56% vs 44%, P = 0.0021). The median number of bowel movements per 24 h was 7 (range, 1-23) in female patients and 6 (range, 1-20) in male patients (P < 0.001). Pad usage was more frequent among female patients than among male patients (62% vs 38%, P < 0.001). A higher incidence of major incontinence (P = 0.009) and use of pads (P = 0.01) was found among patients who had been operated on 21-30 years previously compared with those operated on 11-20 years previously. The prevalence of urgency was higher in patients who received surgery 0-10 years previously compared with 11-20 years previously (P = 0.009). The total IBDQ score was higher in male patients than in female patients (P < 0.001). Male patients scored higher in five of eight SF36 domains (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female patients had more urgency, a higher frequency of defaecation and higher pad usage. This was associated with a reduced QoL. Nevertheless, RPC resulted in good function and a high degree of satisfaction in most patients.
authors: Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. soebra@rm.dk
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Brandsborg
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tøttrup
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Nicholls
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Laurberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D039021:Colonic Pouches / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Restorative proctocolectomy; bowel function; quality of life