title: Health-related quality of life and disability in patients with ulcerative colitis and proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch versus treatment with anti-TNF agents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared health-related quality of life (HRQL) and disability in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in remission with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents (TNF) or after restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patient cohorts were studied. The first group consisted of patients in remission after RPC with IPAA (surgery group). The second group consisted of patients in remission with infliximab or adalimumab (medical group). For inclusion in the surgery group the pouch had to be functional for ≥1year and patients were excluded in case of postoperative complications. In the medical group, patients had to be on maintenance therapy with anti-TNF agents for ≥1year and in clinical remission. HRQL and disability outcomes were assessed using SF-36, COREFO, WPAI:UC and EORTC questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  60 patients were included, 30 patients in both groups. 58 out of 60 patients (97%) returned the completed questionnaires: 29 patients in the surgery group (median age 42 years [22-67]; 48% female) and 29 patients in the medical group (median age 45 years [19-68]; 65% female). Patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups. There were no significant differences in SF-36, WPAI:UC and EORTC questionnaires between both groups, except for the medication and stool frequency scale (COREFO questionnaire) that was significantly higher in the surgery vs. the medical group (p=0.004 and p<0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQL and disability were not different among the medical and surgical group, except for stool frequency and anti-diarrhea medication use that was significantly higher in surgically treated patients.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meijs
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tjibbe J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gardenbroek
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Medical Psychology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mirjam A G
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sprangers
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bemelman
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christianne J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Buskens
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geert R A M
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: D'Haens
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.lowenberg@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löwenberg
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D039021:Colonic Pouches; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab
keywords: Anti-TNF agents; Disability; Health-related quality of life; Restorative proctocolectomy; Ulcerative colitis; Work productivity