Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
Chronic Salmonella Infection Induced Intestinal Fibrosis
Published on: September 22, 2019
Fatigue and mood disorders are highly prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a single-centre,
Andrew Chen1, Darren Wong1,2
1Department of Gastroenterology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Background:
Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet it remains under-recognised in clinical practice. This study aimed to quantify fatigue among Australian patients with IBD and examine associations with disease control, psychological distress and quality of life (QoL).
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult patients with IBD at a tertiary centre. Participants completed four validated questionnaires: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, IBD-Control 8, Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Associations between fatigue and other patient-reported outcomes were analysed, and multivariate regression identified independent predictors of fatigue.
Results:
Of 1179 patients invited, 327 (28%) participated; 166 (51%) had Crohn disease, 152 (46%) ulcerative colitis and nine (3%) IBD-unclassified. Severe fatigue was reported in 46% of participants. Depression and anxiety were present in 29% and 41% of patients respectively. Fatigue was significantly associated with poorer disease control and QoL (P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of fatigue included depressive symptoms (β = -1.03, P < 0.0001), anxiety (β = -0.41, P = 0.003), reduced disease control (β = 0.70, P < 0.0001) and lower QoL (β = 0.23, P = 0.0006). Notably, in a subgroup of 55 patients (17%) with well-controlled disease, fatigue remained strongly linked with psychological distress and impaired QoL.
Conclusion:
Fatigue is highly prevalent in IBD and persists even among patients with good disease control. Psychological distress, poor disease control and reduced QoL are independently associated with fatigue, underscoring the need for routine screening and multidisciplinary management.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
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 colonic...
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...
01:27Inflammatory 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...
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 transmural...
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction