title: Effect of exclusive enteral nutrition on health-related quality of life for adults with active Crohn's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is an effective and safe remission induction treatment for Crohn's disease in adults. Its influence on adults' health-related quality of life remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of EEN on health-related quality of life in adults with active Crohn's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients recruited were treated with a polymeric enteral feed that was taken orally in the daytime and via a self-intubated nasogastric tube at night for 4 weeks. Prospective evaluation of disease activity (Crohn's Disease Activity Index, CDAI) and health-related quality of life (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, IBDQ) were performed at enrollment and after 4 weeks of treatment. Patients' feelings about EEN were also investigated through 2 questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients were treated with 4-week EEN. They had a significant improvement in total IBDQ score (P < .001) and all IBDQ dimensions: bowel symptoms (P < .001), systemic symptoms (P < .001), social function (P = .003), and emotional status (P < .001), with 11 patients (84.6%) achieving clinical remission after treatment. In addition, 8 patients (61.5%) expressed their willingness to receive this 4-week EEN treatment again to induce remission if the disease relapsed. The IBDQ correlated significantly with the CDAI at 4 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 4-week treatment of EEN improves health-related quality of life significantly in adults with active Crohn's disease and was acceptable by most patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Weiming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jieshou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Crohns disease; enteral nutrition; quality of life