The impact of irritable bowel syndrome on health-related quality of life

Background & Aims: Few data are available to evaluate health-related qualit y of life (HRQOL) of people with irritable bower syndrome (IBS), We evaluat ed and compared the impact of IBS on HRQOL using previously reported HRQOL data for the U.S. general population and for people with selected chronic d iseases. Methods: Using the SF-36 Health Survey, we compared the HRQOL of I BS patients (n = 877) with previously reported SF-36 data for the general U .S. population and for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) , diabetes mellitus, depression, and dialysis-dependent end-stage renal dis ease (ESRD). Results: On all 8 SF-36 scales, IBS patients had significantly worse HRQOL than the U.S. general population (P < 0.001). Compared with GE RD patients, IBS patients scored significantly lower on all SF-36 scales (P < 0.001) except physical functioning. Similarly, IBS patients had signific antly worse HRQOL on selected SF-36 scales than patients with diabetes mell itus and ESRD. IBS patients had significantly better mental health SF-36 sc ale scores than patients with depression (P < 0.001), Conclusions: IBS pati ents experience significant impairment in HRQOL. Decrements in HRQOL are mo st pronounced in energy/fatigue, role limitations caused by physical health problems, bodily pain, and general health perceptions. These data offer fu rther insight into the impact of IBS on patient functional status and well- being.