Disability due to Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Correlated with Drug Compliance, Disease Activity, and Quality of Life

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The inflammatory bowel disease disability index (IBD-DI) was recently developed for IBD to assess the functional consequences and disease burden. We applied the IBD-DI to a Korean population and identified predictive factors influencing IBD-related disability. METHODS: Between March and August 2015, 322 consecutive patients with IBD were prospectively recruited. Patients completed the IBD-DI questionnaire and Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Questionnaire (CUCQ-8) for assessing quality of life. We examined the relationships between IBD-DI and disease activity or quality of life and analyzed predictive factors in Korean IBD patients. RESULTS: Enrolled patients completed both questionnaires. Total IBD-DI was correlated with CUCQ-8 scores in both ulcerative colitis (r=0.636, p<0.001) and Crohn’s disease (r=0.711, p<0.001). Total IBD-DI was also correlated with disease activity in both ulcerative colitis (r= −0.224, p=0.003) and Crohn’s disease (r= −0.307, p<0.001). Better drug compliance was associated with lower disability (p=0.001) and higher quality of life (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Disability from IBD was correlated with disease activity and poor quality of life. Better drug compliance was associated with lower disability and higher quality of life. Our findings indicate that physicians should emphasize the importance of medication compliance for IBD patients.