Sustained improvement in health-related quality of life measures in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving prolonged anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the effects of prolonged therapy (≥1 year) with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents were sustained on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patients with IBD who were treated with anti-TNF agents was performed. Results of the validated HRQoL measures (inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire [IBDQ], EuroQoL-5 dimensions [EQ-5D], health status visual analogue scale [VAS] and the Zung self-rating depression scale) were recorded and compared between patients treated with anti-TNF agents for <1 year and≥1 year. Results: A total of 41 patients were finally enrolled in the study. Among them, 11 (26.8%) had received anti-TNF therapy for less than one year with a median duration of 7 months (range 3-11 months), while the other 30 (73.2%) had been treated for≥1 year with a median duration of 42 months (range 12-104 months). Crohn's disease was the most common type in both groups. None of the mean IBDQ, EQ-5D and EQ-5D plus VAS, or Zung self-rating depression scale scores differed significantly between the two groups of patients. Conclusions: Improvements in HRQoL for IBD patients on anti-TNF therapy were sustained for longer than one year. HRQoL measures for IBD patients treated with anti-TNF therapy for<1 year do not differ significantly from those treated for≥1 year, but a trend towards improved HRQoL measures with prolonged therapy can be obtained. © 2013 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.