Back/joint pain, illness perceptions and coping are important predictors of quality of life and work productivity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a 12-month longitudinal study

Mike van der Have, Lianne K P M Brakenhoff, Sanne J H van Erp, Ad A Kaptein, Max Leenders, Margreet Scharloo, Roeland A Veenendaal, Désirée M F M van der Heijde, Andrea E van der Meulen-de Jong, Daan W Hommes, Herma H Fidder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Back and joint pain are the most common extraintestinal symptoms reported by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We assessed the impact of back/joint pain, illness perceptions, and coping on quality of life (QOL) and work productivity in patients with IBD.

METHODS: Our cohort included 155 IBD patients with and 100 without arthropathy. Arthropathy was defined as daily back pain for ≥3 months and/or peripheral joint pain and/or joint swelling over the last year. At baseline and at 12 months, patients completed questionnaires on the extent of back/joint pain, IBD disease activity, illness perceptions, coping, QOL, and work productivity. The impact of back/joint pain, illness perceptions and coping on QOL and work productivity was determined, using linear mixed models.

RESULTS: In total, 204 IBD patients (72% Crohn's disease, 40% male, mean age 44 ± 14 years) completed questionnaires at both time points. At both time points, IBD patients with back/joint pain reported a significantly lower QOL and work productivity compared with IBD patients without back/joint pain. Predictors of low QOL were back/joint pain (β = -1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.40, -0.68), stronger beliefs about the illness consequences (β = -0.39, 95% CI -0.59, -0.18) and emotional impact of IBD (β = -0.47, 95% CI -0.66, -0.28), and the coping strategy 'decreasing activity' (β = -0.26, 95% CI -0.48, -0.03). Predictors of work productivity were back/joint pain (β = 0.22, 95% CI 0.07, 0.37) and illness consequences (β = 0.14, 95% CI 0.06, 0.22).

CONCLUSION: Back/joint pain, illness perceptions, and coping are significant predictors of QOL and work productivity, after controlling for disease activity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)276-83
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Crohn's & Colitis
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Arthralgia
  • Back Pain
  • Efficiency
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
  • Linear Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perception
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

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