Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 3, 2025
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Quality of life in Malaysian children with inflammatory bowel disease: An understudied population
Gin W Lee1, Kee S Chew1, Sean Y Wong1
1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Insights
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is significantly impacted by disease severity. Effective disease management and sustained remission are crucial for improving HRQoL in pediatric IBD patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Quality of life research
- Chronic disease management
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly impacts the quality of life (QoL) in children.
- Understanding factors influencing health-related QoL (HRQoL) is vital for effective pediatric IBD care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate factors affecting HRQoL in Malaysian children diagnosed with IBD.
- To identify key determinants of HRQoL in pediatric IBD patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 75 children (aged 8-17) with IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
- Health-related QoL assessed using the validated IMPACT-III questionnaire.
- Socio-demographic and clinical factors, including disease severity and hospitalisation history, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Higher disease severity, history of hospitalisation, and increased admissions negatively correlated with HRQoL scores.
- Diagnosis at a younger age and longer disease duration were associated with higher HRQoL.
- Better weight-for-age and BMI-for-age z-scores correlated with improved body image domain scores.
Conclusions:
- Disease severity is a significant negative predictor of HRQoL in Malaysian children with IBD.
- Optimizing disease control and achieving long-term remission are essential for enhancing HRQoL in pediatric IBD.
Aim:
Quality of life (QoL) in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often impaired by underlying disease. We evaluated factors affecting health-related QoL (HRQoL) in Malaysian children with IBD.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study using IMPACT-III questionnaires evaluating HRQoL in children aged 8-17 years with duration of IBD of ≥6 months was conducted. IMPACT-III, a validated instrument designed to measure HRQoL in children with IBD, was used. Higher IMPACT-III (maximum = 100) score indicates better HRQoL. Impact of socio-demographic and clinical factors of IBD on the HRQoL was evaluated. Paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) activity indices were used to classify disease severity.
Results:
A total of 75 children (UC = 44, CD = 41; mean (SD) age at diagnosis 8.2 (3.5) years) were interviewed at mean age of 12.8 (2.7) years. Mean IMPACT-III score was significantly lower in children with more severe disease (mild: 71.8 (13.6) vs. moderate: 65.5 (10.9) vs. severe: 46.3 (14.5); P < 0.001), history of hospitalisation (yes: 64.0 (14.0) vs. none: 74.1 (12.2), P = 0.034) and a higher number of admissions (r = -0.352, P = 0.041) in preceding 6 months. Diagnosis at a younger age (r = -0.31, P = 0.007) and a longer duration of disease (r = 0.286, P = 0.013) was associated with higher score. A higher weight-for-age (r = 0.261, P = 0.023) or body mass index-for-age z-score (r = 0.235, P = 0.042) was correlated with a better body image domain score, respectively.
Conclusions:
In Malaysian children with IBD, HRQoL was adversely affected by a more severe disease. Better control of disease activity and maintaining long-term remission are important to improve the HRQoL in childhood IBD.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...