[DISABILITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY]

nflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) which include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis cause chronic remitting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with the potential of bowel wall injury which can lead to disability.

This study aimed to evaluate the degree of disability among IBD patients in Israel using validated scales and to identify factors that are associated with disability. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine the association between disability and quality of life (QoL) among patients.

The study population included 96 patients who attended a dedicated IBD clinic, (71 patients (pts) with Crohn's disease (CD), 22 pts with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 3 pts with IBD-undefined (IBD-U)). The participants completed a 5-part questionnaire which included demographic parameters, a validated QoL measure (inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ), two validated disability scales (the work and social adjustment scale (WSAS) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule V.2.0 (WHODAS2.0), employment status, and a disease activity measure (the Manitoba IBD index (MIBDI).

Major disability was found among 20% of the participants (as defined by a WSAS score ≥17). Major disability was significantly associated with lower QoL (p<0.001) and with recognition of disability from the National Insurance Institute of Israel ("Hamosad Lebituach Leumi") (p=0.005). Significant association was found between WHODAS2.0 and low QoL (r=-0.763,p<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of major disability among patients with CD vs. those with UC.

Approximately one fifth of IBD patients in Israel have major disability, which in turn, is associated with a decreased quality of life and recognition of disability from the National Insurance Institute of Israel. There were no significant differences in rates of disability between patients with CD vs. those with UC.