Quality of life in patients with IBD during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands

Bock, Ellen de; Filipe, Mando D.; Meij, Vincent; Oldenburg, Bas; Schaik, Fiona D.M. van; Bastian, Okan W.; Fidder, H; Vriens, Menno R.; Richir, Milan C.

doi:10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000670

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The results of our study support data from the literature [ 26 , 27 ]. A recent study evaluating the effects of social isolation and emotional stress on patients with IBD during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that isolation at home was associated with an increase in the frequency of stress episodes (50.8%) and gastrointestinal, predominantly functional symptoms, while the decrease in the frequency of stress episodes (11.1%) was associated with a decrease in gastrointestinal symptoms [ 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Life of IBD Patients

et al. 2022

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Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients by limiting their access to medical services due to restrictions and the reorganization of the healthcare systems, which affects their quality of life (QoL). We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the QoL of patients with IBD. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive observational study, which included 90 adult patients diagnosed with IBD. The study sample consisted of two subgroups: a retrospective-pre-pandemic group (group A) and a prospective-pandemic group (group B). Group A included 45 IBD patients who were evaluated in 2018. Group B included 45 patients with confirmed diagnosis of IBD, evaluated between June and December 2021—the period of the COVID-19 pandemic (prospective), consecutively recruited. All the patients filled in a QoL assessment questionnaire—IBDQ-32. Subsequently, the two samples were comparatively assessed. Results: The average values of the IBDQ scores were significantly lower in 2021 compared to those recorded in 2018: 145.56 vs. 128.3 (p < 0.05). We also we found significant differences between the subscores: IBDQ1 (p = 0.043), IBDQ2 (p = 0.034), IBDQ3 (p = 0.045), IBDQ4 (p = 0.025). Conclusions: IBDQ scores were significantly lower in 2021 compared to 2018 (p < 0.05), showing that during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with IBD had a more influenced QoL.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Life of IBD Patients

et al. 2022

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“…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].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…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]. The insignificant changes in symptoms observed by some studies could also be attributed to the fact that IBD patients may have been more socially isolated even prior to the pandemic due to the overwhelming symptomatology they usually suffer from.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Zouridis¹,

Ashraf²,

Tempera³

et al. 2023

Cureus

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BackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a strong relationship with psychological stress. Studies have shown increased stress levels in patients with IBS and IBD during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. The current literature on the impact of work environment on IBD and IBS symptoms is limited, particularly during the current pandemic. ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze how the pandemic impacted patients with IBS and IBD in the setting of staying home versus working outside the home. MethodsAfter Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, a retrospective review of 245 patients with IBS and IBD who followed with our gastroenterology clinic in the past year was performed. Patients were asked about symptoms including, but not limited to, worsening diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. Pearson's chi-squared test was used for analysis. ResultsOf the 245 patients in our study, 67 had IBS, 166 had IBD, and 12 had both. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.4. A total of 136 (55.5%) patients worked from home during the pandemic, while 109 (44.5%) patients worked outside. Eighty-three patients working from home reported no change in symptoms, 35 reported worsening symptoms, and 18 reported an improvement in symptoms. Sixty-eight patients working outside the home reported no change in symptoms, 26 reported worsening symptoms, and 15 reported improvements. Working outside the home had a statistically significant relationship with COVID-19 infection. Thirty patients were infected, of which 22 (73.3%) worked outside the home (p=0.01). Overall, 203 (82.8%) patients received the vaccine, and only 14 of these patients reported worsening gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms one week after receiving the vaccine. Comparable results were seen after dividing the data into cohorts of IBS and IBD patients. Of the patients with IBD staying at home, 15.9% had depression (p=0.01). ConclusionMost patients had symptoms at baseline. There was no statistically significant correlation between change in symptoms and work settings. Patients were less likely to be infected with COVID-19 while staying home. Our patient population showed a high vaccination rate of 82.9% as compared to the national average of 59.2% (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)). Only 5.7% of the patients reported new or worsening gastrointestinal symptoms in the week following vaccination. The limitations of the study included its retrospective design and poor correlation in general between symptoms and disease activity in IBD patients.

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“…Studies carried out by means of questionnaires have shown that the quality of life of IBD patients, particularly in older people, females and patients who underwent surgery, was significantly reduced during pandemic. In many cases limitations were due to mental health and emotional health problems ( 47 ).…”

Section: Clinical Course and Severity Of Covid-19 In Patients With In...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Risks of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Current Evidence

Esposito

Caminiti

Giordano³

et al. 2022

Front. Immunol.

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Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and unclassified inflammatory bowel disease, are a group of chronic, immune mediated conditions that are presumed to occur in genetically susceptible individuals because of a dysregulated intestinal immune response to environmental factors. IBD patients can be considered subjects with an aberrant immune response that makes them at increased risk of infections, particularly those due to opportunistic pathogens. In many cases this risk is significantly increased by the therapy they receive. Aim of this narrative review is to describe the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with IBD. Available data indicate that patients with IBD do not have an increased susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and that, if infected, in the majority of the cases they must not modify the therapy in place because this does not negatively affect the COVID-19 course. Only corticosteroids should be reduced or suspended due to the risk of causing severe forms. Furthermore, COVID-19 seems to modify the course of IBD mainly due to the impact on intestinal disease of the psychological factors deriving from the measures implemented to deal with the pandemic. The data relating to the immune response induced by SARS-CoV-2 or by COVID-19 vaccines can be considered much less definitive. It seems certain that the immune response to disease and vaccines is not substantially different from that seen in healthy subjects, with the exception of patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alone or in combination with other immunosuppressants who showed a reduced immune response. How much, however, this problem reduces induced protection is not known. Moreover, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on IBD course and immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccines has not been studied and deserves attention. Further studies capable of facing and solving unanswered questions are needed in order to adequately protect IBD patients from the risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Quality of life in patients with IBD during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands

Cited by 10 publications

References 46 publications

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Life of IBD Patients

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Life of IBD Patients

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

Risks of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Current Evidence

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