The interrelation between anxiety and quality of life among patients with ulcerative colitis in remission

Abstract

Objective: To determine if anxiety and depression are associated with a lower QoL in patients with UC in remission.

Patients and methods: We included consecutive patients with a previously confirmed diagnosis of UC in remission for at least 12 months and who answered complete questionnaires: IBDQ-32, HAD. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were obtained. We performed non-parametric tests, and correlations between HADS and IBDQ-32 were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient (r). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Among 124 patients, 65% were men, with a median evolution of UC of 10 years (IQR: 5-79 years). Prevalence for anxiety was 15.3% and 2.4% for depression. Global QoL was 192 (IQR: 175-208). Lower QoL was associated with anxiety (p=0.002) and depression (p=0.013). Depression represented lower QoL at the digestive level than no depression (p=0.04). Anxiety negatively correlated with QoL (r=-0.54; p<0.001).

Conclusions: Anxiety is frequent in patients with UC in remission; therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment must be implemented to improve QoL.

Keywords: Ansiedad; Anxiety; Calidad de vida; Colitis ulcerosa; Depresión; Depression; Enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal; Inflammatory bowel disease; Quality of life; Ulcerative colitis.