title: Pain in IBD Patients: Very Frequent and Frequently Insufficiently Taken into Account.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain is a common symptom related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition to abdominal pain, pain can also be an extraintestinal manifestation of IBD. Pain treatment is challenging and a substantial part of IBD patients are treated with opioids. Therefore, a better knowledge on pain symptoms is crucial for a better therapeutic approach to this clinical problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients of the Swiss IBD Cohort Study (SIBDCS) (n = 2152) received a questionnaire regarding pain intensity, pain localization and impact of pain on daily life and social activities. Furthermore, the questionnaire investigated the use of pain-specific medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A vast majority of patients (71%) experienced pain during the disease course. For a substantial part of patients (49% in UC and 55% in CD) pain is a longstanding problem (>5 years). Pain in UC was of shorter duration compared to CD (p < 0.01). Abdominal pain (59.5%) and back pain (38.3%) were the main pain localizations. 67% of patients took pain medication; 24% received no pain treatment. The general quality of life was significantly lower in patients suffering of pain compared to those without pain (38 vs. 77; (-100 very bad; 100 very good) p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of pain is high in patients of the SIBDCS. It is a longstanding problem for the majority of the patients affected. Pain was found to be undertreated in the SIBDCS and was significantly associated with health-related quality of life. Thus, an increased awareness is mandatory to address this frequent complication in the course of IBD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0885-0064
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeitz
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Melike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ak
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonology, Zurcher Rehabilitation Center Wald, Wald, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller-Mottet
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scharl
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biedermann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Bethanien, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pittet
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scharl
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rogler
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.|Division of Gastroenterology, Triemli Spital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vavricka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors