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IBD patients with IBS may have higher risk for chronic fatigue

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ORLANDO — Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who also have irritable bowel syndrome, especially women, may have an increased risk for chronic fatigue, according to a poster presented at AIBD 2016.

To evaluate the association between IBS symptoms and chronic fatigue in IBD patients, and to identify potential prognostic factors for chronic fatigue, researchers from Norway evaluated 470 IBD patients who participated in the 20-year IBSEN study, which was completed in 2014. They interviewed these patients about their symptoms, and completed clinical examinations, lab work-ups, IBS symptom scores and the Chronic Fatigue questionnaire.

Of the 344 patients for whom calprotectin data were available, 264 (77%) were in clinical remission (mean age, 55 years).

Among those in remission, 182 had UC, 82 had Crohn’s, and the mean disease duration was 19 years. Moreover, 68 (26%) had IBS symptoms, and among those patients, 25 (37%) had chronic fatigue (33% UC; 44% Crohn’s).

The investigators found that the women with IBS symptoms were significantly more likely than the men to have chronic fatigue (44% vs. 33%; P = .03).

Conversely, only 15% of the patients without IBS symptoms had chronic fatigue, which was significantly lower compared with the patients who had IBS symptoms (P < 0.0001).

“In comparison, the prevalence of [chronic fatigue] in the Norwegian background population aged 50-59 years is 12.2% in males and 10.5% in females,” the researchers wrote.

Logistic regression analysis using a combination of IBS and chronic fatigue as a dependent variable, and sex and diagnosis as independent variables, showed female sex was a significant predictor of chronic fatigue (OR = 5.3; 95% CI, 1.8-15.9).

The researchers concluded that their findings show IBS symptoms in IBD patients who are in remission is associated with a higher prevalence of chronic fatigue, “and far higher than comparable age groups in the background population.” – by Adam Leitenberger

Reference:

Bernklev T, et al. Abstract P-048. Presented at: Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Dec. 8-10, 2016; Orlando, Fla.

Disclosures: Healio Gastroenterology was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures.