Impact of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic on Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Background To learn from the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and be prepared for future pandemics, it is important to investigate the impact of this period on the wellbeing of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aims To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease control of IBD patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands. Methods Between March 17 and July 1, 2020, patients aged 18 years and older with IBD from the Erasmus MC (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) were invited to complete online questionnaires at week 0, 2, 6 and 12. The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Control-8 (IBD-control-8) and the numeric rating scale on fatigue were used. The evolution of the different outcomes over time was measured using mixed models. Results Of 1151 invited patients, 851 patients (67% CD and 33% UC or IBD-U) participated in the study (response rate 74%). No relevant changes in total scores were found over time for the IBDQ (effect estimate 0.006, 95% CI [− 0.003 to 0.015]) and IBD-control-8 (effect estimate 0.004, 95% CI [0.998–1.011]). There was a slight, increasing trend in fatigue scores over time (effect estimate 0.011, 95% CI [0.004, 0.019]). Conclusions This first lock down due to the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands did not impact on the HRQoL and disease control of patients with IBD. Up to date information may have contributed to a stable HRQoL in IBD patients even in an extreme period with restrictions and insecurities. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10620-021-07118-8.

Has COVID-19 pandemic worsened quality of life of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease? A longitudinal disease activity-controlled study

“…To our knowledge, the only longitudinal study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic reported that IBD-related HRQOL remained mostly stable during different phases of restrictions [3]. The result that COVID-19 played a negligible role in IBD-related HRQOL could be explained by the evidence that social distancing and staying at home are already an everyday problem for IBD patients because of speci c symptomatology (e.g., uncontrolled bowel movements, pain, and fatigue) [3,5]. Furthermore, it is possible that being in isolation due to the restrictions could even decrease the discomfort caused by the management of the disease and the fear of contracting COVID-19 in these patients [4].…”

“…These ndings con rm the results of our preliminary cross-sectional study [4] in which the COVID-19-related psychological distress played unexpectedly only a negligible role on IBD-speci c HRQOL. To our knowledge, the only longitudinal study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic reported that IBD-related HRQOL remained mostly stable during different phases of restrictions [3]. The result that COVID-19 played a negligible role in IBD-related HRQOL could be explained by the evidence that social distancing and staying at home are already an everyday problem for IBD patients because of speci c symptomatology (e.g., uncontrolled bowel movements, pain, and fatigue) [3,5].…”

“…Because of the bidirectional brain-gut axis, psychological distress and disease activity (DA) showed to be consistently linked bidirectionally over time and consequently have a profound impact on IBD patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) [2]. Contrasting positive or null results on the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in IBD patients have been reported [3]. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined longitudinally the burden of concomitant IBD activity on HRQOL during the different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

A Comparison of the Effects of COVID-19 on Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients While Working at Home and in the Office: A Retrospective Study

“…Similar results have been noted among IBD patients. Although some studies indicate lower quality of life as an effect of the pandemic, other investigators support that despite recent barriers in IBD patients' healthcare, such as delays in procedures, appointments, and drug inaccessibility, the quality of life has not changed significantly [21][22][23][24]. For example, in the Netherlands, investigators reported worsening in quality of life and gastrointestinal symptomatology, but a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia did not reveal worsening in IBD patients' quality of life [23,24].…”

Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Worsened Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease? A Longitudinal Disease Activity-Controlled Study

“…Results from empirical studies are, however, controversial. Some investigations found that, during the stay-at-home period, up to one third of IBD patients reported poor HRQoL and moderate to severe anxiety and depressive symptoms [39][40][41][42][43] whereas, in contrast, other investigations showed that disability and HRQoL were unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic [44][45][46]. The conclusions of those previous studies are, however, limited by the lack of a control for DA.…”