Fatigue in a population-based cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease 20 years after diagnosis: The IBSEN study

Abstract

Objective: Fatigue is a major concern for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), but evidence from population-based studies regarding fatigue in long-standing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is scarce. Our aims were to assess fatigue scores and the prevalence of chronic fatigue in IBD patients 20 years after diagnosis and to identify variables associated with fatigue in this cohort.

Methods: Twenty years after diagnosis, patients from a cohort with incident IBD were invited to a follow-up visit that included a structured interview, a clinical examination, laboratory tests and the Fatigue Questionnaire (FQ). Fatigue scores were obtained, and factors associated with fatigue were assessed via linear and logistic regression analyses.

Results: Of the 599 invited patients, 440 (73.5%) completed the FQ. Among those with active disease, we found significantly higher fatigue scores than among those with quiescent disease (fatigue scores: UC 17.1 versus 12.4, p < .001, and CD 17.5 versus 13.3, p < .001). The fatigue scores of those with quiescent disease were comparable with those of the reference population. Chronic fatigue was more frequent among IBD patients than in the reference population. Factors associated with fatigue included self-perceived disease activity, poor sleep quality, anxiety and depression.

Conclusion: At 20 years after IBD diagnosis, fatigue scores were higher and chronic fatigue was more frequent among IBD patients with active disease than in the reference population and among those with quiescent IBD. Subjectively perceived disease activity, sleep quality, anxiety and depression were associated with fatigue in IBD patients.

Keywords:

• Crohn’s disease
• fatigue
• inflammatory bowel disease
• ulcerative colitis

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Corrigendum

Acknowledgements

The authors contributed to the work as follows:

Conception and study design: Gert Huppertz-Hauss, Geir Hoff, Bjørn Moum, Tomm Bernklev.

Data acquisition: Gert Huppertz-Hauss, Tomm Bernklev, Randi Opheim, Lars-Petter Jelsness-Jørgensen, Magne Henriksen, Ole Høie, Øistein Hovde, Iril Kempski-Monstad, Inger Camilla Solberg, Jørgen Jahnsen.

Analysis of data: Gert Huppertz-Hauss, Tomm Bernklev.

Interpretation of data, drafting and critical revision of the article: all authors.

All authors approved the final version of the article, including the authorship list.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.