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Background & aimsThe burden of ulcerative colitis (UC) in relation to disease severity is not well documented. This study quantitatively evaluated the relationship between disease activity and quality of life (QoL), as well as health care utilization, cost, and work-related impairment associated with UC in an Australian population.MethodsA cross-sectional, noninterventional, observational study was performed in patients with a wide range of disease severity recruited during routine specialist consultations. Evaluations included the Assessment of Quality of Life-8-dimension (AQoL-8D), EuroQol 5-dimension, 5-level (EQ-5D-5L), the disease-specific Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) instrument. The 3-item Partial Mayo Score was used to assess disease severity. Health care resource utilization was assessed by chart review and patient questionnaires.ResultsIn 175 patients, mean (SD) AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L scores were greater for patients in remission (0.80 [0.19] and 0.81 [0.18], respectively) than for patients with active disease (0.70 [0.20] and 0.72 [0.19], respectively, both Ps<0.001). IBDQ correlated with both AQoL-8D (r=0.73; P<0.0001) and EQ-5D-5L (0.69; P<0.0001). Mean 3-month UC-related health care cost per patient was AUD $2914 (SD=$3447 [mean for patients in remission=$1970; mild disease=$3736; moderate/severe disease=$4162]). Patients in remission had the least work and activity impairment.ConclusionsMore severe UC disease was associated with poorer QoL. Substantial health care utilization, costs, and work productivity impairments were found in this sample of patients with UC. Moreover, greater disease activity was associated with greater health care costs and impairment in work productivity and daily activities.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.crohns.2013.11.017

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of Crohn's & colitis

Publication Date

07/2014

Volume

8

Pages

598 - 606

Addresses

Alfred Hospital, Australia; Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Peter.Gibson@monash.edu.

Keywords

Humans, Colitis, Ulcerative, Work Capacity Evaluation, Hospitalization, Severity of Illness Index, Retrospective Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Efficiency, Quality of Life, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Health Services, Health Care Costs, Drug Costs, Australia, Female, Male, Young Adult, Surveys and Questionnaires