Quality of life study in a regional group of patients with Crohn disease -A structured interview study

Background: The course and prognosis of Crohn disease has previously been d escribed in a regional group of patients in Copenhagen County. The aim of t he present study was to reveal the quality of life, as judged by the patien ts, and compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls, Methods: Out of 100 consecutive out-patients with Crohn disease, 94 patients accepted to pa rticipate together with 94 age- and six-matched healthy controls. A modifie d McMaster Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ(23)) was used, ex cluding bowel-related questions, Medical students conducted interviews with out knowing who were Crohn disease patients and who were controls. The bowe l-related questions and Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) were assessed by gastroenterologists at inclusion in the study. Responses were indicated on a seven-point scale (7 best/l worst), Mean numeric score was calculated as well as a delta score, i.e. the difference in score between a patient a nd the matched control. Results: In 21 of 23 questions the median delta sco re was zero, indicating no difference between patient and control. The medi an total delta score was 0.4 in favour of healthy controls (P < 0.001), and significantly higher in patients in relapse, 0.9, than in patients in remi ssion, 0.3 (P < 0.01). The median total numeric score was 5.7 for patients and 6.1 for controls. Conclusions: Although patients with Crohn disease sco red significantly lower on the quality of life scale than matched healthy c ontrols, the differences were smaller than could be expected, taking the ch ronic disease into consideration. Disease activity correlated with the qual ity of life score.