P174 Uncontrolled depression and female gender increase the risk of severe fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease under infliximab therapy.
Ferreiro Iglesias, R.(1)*;Calvino-Suarez, C.(1);Baston-Rey, I.(1);Mauriz-Barreiro, V.(2);Dominguez-Munoz, J.E.(1);Barreiro-de Acosta, M.(1);
(1)University Hospital Santiago De Compostela CHUS, Department of Gastroenterology- IBD Unit, Santiago De Compostela, Spain;(2)University Hospital Ferrol CHUF, Department of Gastroenterology, Ferrol, Spain;
Background
Fatigue is a significant predictor of worst health-related qualify of life in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Nevertheless, the role of fatigue in IBD patients under infliximab (IFX) therapy has been poorly investigated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential factors associated with fatigue in patients under maintenance treatment with IFX.
Methods
A prospective observational cohort study was designed. All IBD patients aged 18 and over under maintenance treatment with intravenous (IV) infliximab were consecutively included at the infusion day. Patients completed 3 self administered questionnaires. Fatigue was assessed with the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), quality of life with the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-Short From (IBDQ-9) and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD). We considered the maximum total FIS as the highest fatigue perception. Disease activity was defined in Crohn’s disease as a Harvey-Bradshaw index >4, and in ulcerative colitis (UC) as a Partial Mayo index >2. Patient demographics and disease characteristics were also collected: age, sex, disease duration, smoking habit, type of IBD, extra-intestinal manifestations, clinical activity, prior surgery, obesity, anemia, treatments (steroids, immunosuppressants, anxiolytics, antidepressants) and presence of anxiety or depression. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the variables associated with the presence of fatigue.
Results
Ninety patients were consecutively included (49 female, median age 42 years, interquartile range 19). Sixty three patients (70%) had Crohn’s disease (46.8% fistulising and 25.8% stenosing behaviour) and twenty seven ulcerative colitis (30%). Nearly 27% were smokers, 35 (39%) presented anxiety and 18 (21%) depression. Approximately, 8% of the patients and 7% received treatment for anxiety and depression, respectively, but only 2/18 patients with current depression received antidepressants. Combotherapy was present in 41% of the patients and 75.6% were in clinical remission. Mean fatigue was 32.74 ± SD 17.27. The highest scores for fatigue were associated with female gender (B = 10.936; P= 0.009) and the presence of depression (B = 11.114; P = 0.029). Activity disease almost increased significantly the severity of the fatigue(B = 8.995; P= 0.063). The use of antidepressants not increased the risk (B = -4.995; P = 0.555). Patients with fatigue had significantly reduced the quality of life (r = -0.638; p < 0.001) (Figure 1).
Conclusion
Uncontrolled depression and female gender increased the risk of severe fatigue more than disease activity in patients under maintenance treatment with IFX. Fatigue is related to worst health-related qualify of life.