Fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A descriptive cross-sectional study

To identify factors associated with the presence of fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Prospective cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in a multidisciplinary centre for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID). Participants were patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) under follow-up in an advanced practice nurse (APN) consultation. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, biochemical parameters, disease activity, quality of life, severity of fatigue, anxiety and depression were collected. A multivariate analysis was performed with logistic regression adjusted for sex and years of disease progression.

A total of 243 patients were included, 174 (71.6%) with Crohn's disease and 69 (28.4%) with ulcerative colitis; 73 (30.2%) reported fatigue. Patients with fatigue had a significantly lower quality of life EuroQol-5D-5L: 60.08 vs. 76.34, (P<.001, 95%CI: 12.15-20.36) and IBDQ-9 57.53 vs. 76.54 (P<.001, 95%CI: 15.35-22.67). The regression model adjusted for sex and years of disease included moderate disease activity (OR: 4.88, P<.001, 95%CI: 2.13-11. 14), probable case of anxiety (OR: 2.16, P=.031, 95%CI: 0.78-4.34), probable case of depression (OR: 2.86, P=.004, 95%CI: 1.41-5.81).

Fatigue was significantly associated with poorer health-related quality of life in patients with moderate disease activity and those experiencing anxiety or depression. These findings highlight the necessity of a comprehensive approach that includes early detection of fatigue and associated psychosocial factors.