Quality of life after proctocolectomy for ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

An evaluation of quality of life (QOL) after surgery in ulcerative colitis patients in Japan is not clarified. We studied long-term postoperative case for QOL via questionnaires (SF36v2) mailed to subjects. Methods : Subjects were 138 of 151 cases of ulcerative colitis surgery conducted from 1984 to 2008 and still being followed up. Two surveys had been conducted in 2005 and 2008 on postoperative QOL inquiring about the correlation between the postoperative period and QOL, time-dependent changes in personal QOL, and the correlation between bowel function and QOL. The national average SF36 score is 50. Results : The response was 83.5% (96/115) to the first questionnaire and 76.1% (105/138) to the second. SF36 scores for (the first/second questionnaire) were PF 54.0/52.6, RP 50.9/49.6, BP 52.3/53.7, GH 47.3/47.7, VT 52.2/49.7, SF 50.5/49.8, RE 51.1/49.2 and MH 52.1/49.1. Four subscales showed scores under 50 for within two years after surgery (six subscales for the second questionnaire) but scores were improved after five years. A high score group (higher than 14) of the defecation score (0-18) showed high significantly favorable scores of QOL in five subscales compared with a low score group. The SF36 scores of 78 patients from whom we received a questionnaire two times in a row showed around 50. Conclusions : The QOL for those undergoing postoperative ulcerative colitis was equivalent to the national average, and improved as postoperative time passed. Satisfaction with bowel function influenced postoperative QOL. © 2010 The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery.