Health-related quality of life and cost impact of irritable bowel syndrome in a UK primary care setting

OBJECTIVES: To identify the impact of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), time off work and the utilisation and cost of health services. DESIGN: A case-control study was undertaken matching patients with IBS and controls. Quality-of-life information was collected using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form (SF-36) health survey, EuroQOL instrument (EQ-5D) and IBS Quality-of-Life (IBS-QOL) instruments. Data on time off work was also collected. National Health Service (NHS) resource use in primary and secondary care was estimated by review of general practitioner (GP) and hospital records over a 12-month period. SETTING: Recruitment was from six GPs' surgeries in the Trent Region of the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: 161 patients with IBS, as defined by the Rome Criteria I were recruited. These were compared with 213 controls matched for age, sex and social characteristics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SF-36 and EQ-5D scores; mean number of days off work; mean NHS costs per person during the 12-month study period. RESULTS: Patients with IBS had considerably lower HR-QOL than controls. They scored worse in all dimensions of the SF-36 and the EQ-5D and they had more time off work. On average patients with IBS cost the NHS 123 UK pounds (95% confidence interval: 35 UK pounds to 221 UK pounds, 1999 values) more per year than individuals in the control group (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: IBS affects patients through reduced quality of life, more time off work and greater healthcare utilisation than a control group of patients without IBS. The difference in quality of life was pronounced and unusual in that it was influential in every dimension of both the SF-36 and the EQ-5D.     

Implications of melatonin therapy in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent chronic functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder associated with abdominal pain and change in bowel habits that its etiology is not known yet. In the recent years, melatonin has been proposed as a possible candidate. In the present work, all clinical or non-clinical data about effects of melatonin in GI tract and IBS obtained from literature without time limit up to August 2010 have been studied and reviewed. Eight clinical trials were reviewed for efficacy and disturbance of melatonin in IBS and other GI disorders. The results showed disturbances in endogenous melatonin concentration in IBS patients and significant benefits of exogenous melatonin in these patients by decreasing abdominal pain and improvement of overall IBS symptom scores. The results of seventeen non-clinical studies showed anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, anti oxidative and motility regulatory effects of melatonin on GI tract. In conclusion melatonin can be a target of interest in IBS because of its potentials to regulate GI motility.     

Health-related quality of life,work productivity and health care resource use associated with constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Objectives:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder. Prevalence estimates of IBS vary widely, from 10 to 15%, in the U.S. However, few studies have examined constipation predominant IBS (IBS-C), a subtype of IBS. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of IBS-C on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), work productivity and activity impairment, and health care resource use.     

Clinical economics review: irritable bowel syndrome

The ubiquitous nature of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coupled with a lack of good treatment options, has created the impression that the condition must represent a large drain on health-care resources. The literature certainly appears to support this view but is largely based on patients seen in referral centres (10–15%) and it may not be appropriate to extrapolate these data to the IBS population as a whole (85–90%).
In addition to reviewing such literature that exists on the economics of IBS, this paper contains some new data, which suggest that the direct costs of the condition, certainly in the UK, may not be quite as high as has previously been assumed. This may be partly due to factors such as the low cost of the drugs used to treat the condition and the tendency for many patients to stop consulting because of disenchantment with the inadequacies of current therapy. Conversely, the indirect and intangible costs of the disorder appear to be much greater, but these burdens obviously do not have such an impact on those responsible for purchasing and providing health care for IBS sufferers.
Paradoxically, if a new, effective therapy for IBS were forthcoming, the situation could change dramatically, especially if it involved a new drug. Any such agent would inevitably be more expensive than anything available today, leading to a potentially dramatic escalation in the direct costs of this disorder.     

Health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by a chronic, but frequently remitting, clinical course involving significant morbidity. As medical and surgical advances have occurred, focus has shifted from merely reducing mortality to efforts on decreasing morbidity and improving health status. With this paradigm shift has come the need for qualitative and quantitative assessment of outcomes important to the individual patient. Existing disease activity measures fall short in this area. Health-related quality of life encompasses the areas of physical function, somatic sensation, psychological state and social interactions that are affected by one's health status. Instruments have recently been developed for both generic and disease-specific health states, such as IBD. These psychometric measures have proven to be useful tools for patient assessment. Both medical and surgical trials have incorporated these measures as salient outcomes. An additional outcome that has come under closer scrutiny is the cost of medical interventions. The literature on the cost of IBD is sparse but is likely to increase logarithmically in the future. Quality of life and cost issues are becoming central to the study of not just IBD but all of medicine.     

护理干预对改善肠易激综合征患者生活质量的研究

目的研究护理干预对改善肠易激综合征患者生活质量的作用。方法选择2009年1月～2012年1月就诊的肠易激综合征患者50例为研究对象,随机分为干预组和对照组各25例,对照组遵医嘱进行对症治疗及护理,干预组采取心理干预、饮食干预、健康教育等系统的护理干预措施,比较两组患者干预后4周的生活质量SF-6量表各维度评分及住院天数、重复住院率。结果干预组25例患者的生理功能、生理职能、身体疼痛、总体健康、活力、社会功能、情感职能、心理健康各维度评分均明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）。与对照组比较,干预组的平均住院天数短,重复住院率低（P〈0.05）。结论护理干预措施能够提高肠易激综合征患者的生活质量,缩短住院时间,降低重复住院率。     

Health-related quality of life burden of women with endometriosis: a literature review

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive and systematic literature review of the health-related quality of life (HRQL) burden of endometriosis in adults and adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search and review of studies published between January 1999 and January 2006 using MEDLINE and relevant online resources. Search terms used included endometriosis, quality of life, burden of illness, psychology, and adolescent. We assessed: (1) the HRQL impact of endometriosis and related key symptoms; (2) the impact of specific pharmacologic and surgical treatments of endometriosis on HRQL; and (3) the presence and impact of endometriosis in adolescents.

Results: Twenty relevant studies were identified and reviewed. Generic instruments most commonly used to assess HRQL in patients with endometriosis included the SF‐36 and the SF‐12. The EQ‐5D was used to measure utilities. The Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP‐30) and its subset, the EHP‐5, have been recently developed for use in endometriosis studies. Endometriosis was associated with significant impairments in pain, psychological functioning, and social functioning. Pharmacological and surgical treatments for endometriosis improved patients physical functioning, psychological functioning, vitality, pain level, and general health. Few studies used disease specific instruments to characterize the HRQL burden of endometriosis, addressed the HRQL impact of endometriosis-related infertility, and examined endometriosis in adolescents. Instruments specifically validated to measure HRQL in adolescents were not identified.

Conclusions: Endometriosis impairs HRQL, especially in the domains of pain, psychological and social functioning. Therapies have been shown to alleviate symptoms and improve HRQL. Further research is warranted to evaluate the impact of endometriosis on HRQL in adolescents and the impact of infertility due to endometriosis on HRQL.     

Health-related quality of life burden of women with endometriosis: a literature review

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive and systematic literature review of the health-related quality of life (HRQL) burden of endometriosis in adults and adolescents. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search and review of studies published between January 1999 and January 2006 using MEDLINE and relevant online resources. Search terms used included endometriosis, quality of life, burden of illness, psychology, and adolescent. We assessed: (1) the HRQL impact of endometriosis and related key symptoms; (2) the impact of specific pharmacologic and surgical treatments of endometriosis on HRQL; and (3) the presence and impact of endometriosis in adolescents. RESULTS: Twenty relevant studies were identified and reviewed. Generic instruments most commonly used to assess HRQL in patients with endometriosis included the SF-36 and the SF-12. The EQ-5D was used to measure utilities. The Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30) and its subset, the EHP-5, have been recently developed for use in endometriosis studies. Endometriosis was associated with significant impairments in pain, psychological functioning, and social functioning. Pharmacological and surgical treatments for endometriosis improved patients physical functioning, psychological functioning, vitality, pain level, and general health. Few studies used disease specific instruments to characterize the HRQL burden of endometriosis, addressed the HRQL impact of endometriosis-related infertility, and examined endometriosis in adolescents. Instruments specifically validated to measure HRQL in adolescents were not identified. CONCLUSIONS: Endometriosis impairs HRQL, especially in the domains of pain, psychological and social functioning. Therapies have been shown to alleviate symptoms and improve HRQL. Further research is warranted to evaluate the impact of endometriosis on HRQL in adolescents and the impact of infertility due to endometriosis on HRQL.     

Quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome.

Quality-of-life (QOL) assessment is becoming increasingly important in the evaluation of the impact of disease and the effect of therapy. This is particularly so forirritable bowel syndrome (IBS) where there is often a tendency for a chronic clinical course, but with no associated mortality. Instruments used to study quality of life may be generic or disease specific, and care needs to be taken to ensure that the instrument used has been adequately validated for the purpose intended. Several disease-specific instruments [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QOL, IBSQOL) and Functional Digestive Disorders Quality of Life (FDDQL)], in addition to generic measures, are now available for use in IBS. Quality of life in patients with IBS is surprisingly poor, particularly in the population seeking healthcare, where it can be compared with conditions which carry a high mortality, such as ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and diabetes mellitus. Pain severity appears to be an important factor in determining quality of life in IBS, although bowel disturbance and psychological difficulties are also likely to be important. There is limited data on the effect of treatment of IBS on quality of life. Improvement has been reported with dietry modification, drug treatments and hypnotherapy. It is likely that, in the future, QOL measures will become increasingly used as secondary end-points in therapeutic trials in IBS.     

Novel investigational drugs for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a review

Introduction: Constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder with an unknown etiology. A number of the drugs tested for IBS-C have also been applied to chronic constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation. Unfortunately, due to severe adverse effects, many drugs envisioned for IBS-C had been withdrawn from the market. Nevertheless, a number of potential new agents for this indication are now under development.

Areas covered: The following review describes the most recently developed agents in preclinical as well as Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies. Information was obtained from published literature, abstracts and the latest results found in Clinicaltrial.gov database. The authors put a special interest on glucagon-like peptide 1 analogue, bile acid modulators, serotonergic agents, guanylate cyclase C and cannabinoid antagonists.

Expert opinion: To enter the market, a newly-developed drug has to meet several criteria, such as good bioavailability or the absence of drug-related adverse events. Taking into account constipation and abdominal pain as the main symptoms in IBS-C, a novel successful drug is usually able to improve both at the same time. Four out of fifteen investigational drugs described in this paper belong to the serotonergic family and have a good prognosis to reach the market; still, more long-term clinical studies are warranted.     

Determinants of healthcare-seeking behaviour among subjects with irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND: Doctor visits for irritable bowel syndrome are associated with high medical costs. Predictors of medical consultation for irritable bowel syndrome remain poorly understood. AIM: To determine factors associated with healthcare seeking for irritable bowel syndrome. METHODS: Subjects from previous US population-based survey were contacted 2 years later. Those who continued to have irritable bowel syndrome were included. RESULTS: 49% of subjects sought medical care for abdominal symptoms in the past year. Healthcare seeking did not differ significantly between males and females, but more females received an irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis. Predictors of irritable bowel syndrome healthcare seeking differed by gender. In multivariate analysis, age > or = 55 years (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.5-5.4), fear abdominal symptoms relates to serious illness (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 0.95-3.1), decreased bowel movements (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 0.98-3.2), dyspepsia (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 0.94-3.2) and pelvic pain (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.2-4.4) were associated with seeking care in females. Among males, being disabled (OR = 11.6, 95% CI: 2.4-56.1) and abdominal cramping (OR =4.3, 95% CI: 1.2-15.4) were associated with seeking care. Healthcare seekers had lower irritable bowel syndrome-related quality of life. Neither pain severity nor mental health status was associated with seeking care. CONCLUSION: Healthcare-seeking behaviour among irritable bowel syndrome patients was determined by presence of comorbidities and extent that irritable bowel syndrome affected quality of life, not physical symptoms or mental health status.     

Systematic review: the economic impact of irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND: Although little mortality is associated with irritable bowel syndrome, curative therapy does not exist and thus the economic impact of this disorder may be considerable. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed. Studies were included if their focus was irritable bowel syndrome, and direct and/or productivity (indirect) costs were reported. Two investigators abstracted the data independently. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-four studies were retrieved by the search; 11 fulfilled all criteria for entry into the review. The mean direct costs of irritable bowel syndrome management were reported to be UK pound sterling90, Canadian$259 and US$619 per patient annually, with total annual direct costs related to irritable bowel syndrome of pound sterling45.6 million (UK) and $1.35 billion (USA). Direct resource consumption of all health care for irritable bowel syndrome patients ranged from US$742 to US$3166. Productivity costs ranged from US$335 to US$748, with total annual costs of $205 million estimated in the USA. Annual expenditure for all health care, in addition to expenditure limited to gastrointestinal disorders, was significantly higher in irritable bowel syndrome patients than in control populations. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of significant mortality, irritable bowel syndrome is associated with high direct and productivity costs. Irritable bowel syndrome patients consume more gastrointestinal-related and more total health care resources than non-irritable bowel syndrome controls, and sustain significantly greater productivity losses.     

性别及心理因素对肠易激综合征患者生活质量的影响

目的探讨性别及性别相关心理差异对肠易激综合征（iBs）患者生活质量的影响。方法由消化科医师对IBS患者进行问卷调查,问卷内容包括：一般人口学资料、焦虑和抑郁量表、生活质量量表。统计调查资料、分析IBS患者性别及性别相关心理差异对生活质量的影响。结果根据罗马Ⅲ标准收集IBS患者452例,年龄分布在14～79岁;男193例（42．7％）,女259例（57．3％）,男女比例为l：1．3。女性IBS患者SAS、SDS评分分别为（53．57±6．70）分、（40．81±7．15）分,男性分别为（49．19±5．99）分、（36．67±6．40）分,女性患者均明显高于男性患者（t=7．191、6．459,均P〈0．01）。女性IBS患者IBS．QOL总分低于男性IBS患者（t=9．119,P〈0．01）。在量表包括的8个纬度中,女性IBS患者在烦躁不安、身体角色、健康忧虑、社会反应、异性概念等5个纬度得分低于男性（t=11．021、22．175、7．256、10．409、7．113,均P〈0．01）,在冲突行为、饮食限制、家庭关系等3个纬度与男性无明显差异（均P〉0．05）。IBS患者SAS、SDS评分与IBS-QOL评分（总分及各个纬度评分）均呈明显负相关（均P〈0．01）。结论性别不同IBS患者存在心理及生活质量差异,IBS患者性别相关的心理差异影响患者的生活质量。     

Relationship between rectal sensitivity, symptoms intensity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Background  Relationships between pain threshold during rectal distension and both symptoms intensity and alteration in quality of life (QoL) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients have been poorly evaluated.
Aim  To evaluate relationships between rectal sensitivity, IBS symptom intensity and QoL in a multicentre prospective study.
Methods  Rectal threshold for moderate pain was measured during rectal distension in IBS patients (Rome II), while IBS symptoms intensity was assessed by a validated questionnaire and QoL by the Functional Digestive Disorder Quality of Life questionnaire.
Results  Sixty-eight patients (44.2 ± 12.7 years, 48 women) were included. The mean rectal distending volume for moderate pain was 127 ± 35 mL while 45 patients (66%) had rectal hypersensitivity (pain threshold <140 mL). Rectal threshold was not significantly related either to overall IBS intensity score ( r  = −0.66, P  =   0.62) or to its different components, or to FDDQL score ( r  = 0.30, P  =   0.14). Among FDDQL domains, only anxiety ( r  = 0.30, P  =   0.01) and coping ( r  = 0.31, P  =   0.009) were significantly related with pain threshold.
Conclusions  In this study, two-thirds of IBS patients exhibited rectal hypersensitivity. No significant correlation was found between rectal threshold and either symptom intensity or alteration in QoL.     

Pelvic floor disorders and quality of life in women with self‐reported irritable bowel syndrome

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31 , 424–431

Summary

Background Quality of life among women with irritable bowel syndrome may be affected by pelvic floor disorders. Aim To assess the association of self‐reported irritable bowel syndrome with urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sexual function and quality of life. Methods We analysed data from the Reproductive Risks for Incontinence Study at Kaiser Permanente, a random population‐based study of 2109 racially diverse women (mean age = 56). Multivariate analyses assessed the association of irritable bowel syndrome with pelvic floor disorders and quality of life. Results The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome was 9.7% (n = 204). Women with irritable bowel had higher adjusted odds of reporting symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (OR 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4–4.1) and urinary urgency (OR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0–1.9); greater bother from pelvic organ prolapse (OR 4.3; 95% CI, 1.5–11.9) and faecal incontinence (OR 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3–3.2); greater lifestyle impact from urinary incontinence (OR 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3–3.8); and worse quality of life (P < 0.01). Women with irritable bowel reported more inability to relax and enjoy sexual activity (OR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3–2.6) and lower ratings for sexual satisfaction (OR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3–2.5), but no difference in sexual frequency, interest or ability to have an orgasm. Conclusions Women with irritable bowel are more likely to report symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse and sexual dysfunction, and report lower quality of life.     

Side effects associated with pharmacotherapy for pediatric irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain – not otherwise specified: a systematic review

Introduction: To systematically review the literature regarding the side effects of pharmacotherapy in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain – not otherwise specified (FAP-NOS).

Areas covered: Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases were searched from inception to May 2018. The following inclusion criteria were applied: (1) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies or case-control studies; (2) in children aged 4–18 years or adult studies if children are reported separately; (3) reporting a diagnosis of IBS or FAP-NOS as defined by the authors; and (4) reporting the occurrence of side effects of pharmacotherapy. Quality assessment of included studies was conducted.

Expert opinion: A total of 4619 articles were identified; 17 were included. In 10/17 (59%) studies, side effects of pharmacotherapy (antispasmodics, antidepressants, antihistaminic agents, serotonergic agents and antibiotics) occurred. The majority of side effects were: (1) limited to the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system and, 2) mild and transient. No serious adverse events were reported. This systematic review shows that data on safety in children with functional abdominal pain disorders are scarce, and highlights the lack of high-quality research for potential side effects of pediatric IBS and FAP-NOS. Further research by means of large well-designed-follow-up studies is necessary.