The prevalence and risk factors of psychological disorders, malnutrition and quality of life in IBD patients

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients show an increased risk for psychological disorders, malnutrition and impaired quality of life (QoL), which can result in adverse clinical outcomes. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence and risk factors of psychological disorders, malnutrition and QoL in IBD patients.

Methods: All participants were recruited to fill out the questionnaires including inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ), perceived social support scale, HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, NRS2002 (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002), Crohn's disease activity index, Modified Truelove and Witts Activity Index, dietary beliefs and behaviors. Demographic and clinical characteristics were extracted from electronic medical records. Multivariate regression model was performed to identify the risk factors for psychological disorders, malnutrition and QoL.

Results: A total of 78 inpatients were enrolled in this study, 76 (97.4%) of IBD patients had anxiety, 71 (91%) had depressive. Forty six (59.0%) were screened at risk of malnutrition. The mean score of IBDQ was 131.51 ± 36.136. In the multivariate analysis, higher disease activity and history treated with steroids in the last year were associated with anxiety; higher disease activity was related to depressive. Higher disease activity and avoiding certain foods during disease flares were associated with high risk of malnutrition. Unemployment/no schooling status, higher disease activity and lower social support were associated with lower IBDQ score.

Conclusions: The high prevalence of psychological disorders and malnutrition were found in IBD patients, and thereby negatively affect QoL. Disease activity was significantly associated with psychological disorders, risk of malnutrition and impaired QoL. And avoiding certain foods was related to risk of malnutrition.