Novel symptom clusters predict disease impact and healthcare utilisation in inflammatory bowel disease: Prospective longitudinal follow-up study

Modifiable Psychological Factors are Associated With Clusters of Pain, Fatigue, Fecal Incontinence, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Type Symptoms in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Latent Profile Analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes fatigue, pain, and fecal urgency/incontinence symptoms. Identifying symptom profile subgroups and related psychological correlates might enable earlier intervention and more effective tailored treatment pathways.

METHODS

This study was nested within a randomized controlled trial of a digital symptom intervention for people with IBD (n = 780). Latent profile analysis was conducted on pre-randomization baseline measures of fatigue, pain, and fecal incontinence. Multinominal logistic regression examined associations between profile membership and clinical, demographic and psychological factors.

RESULTS

Latent profile analysis determined a three-profile model: Moderate (50%), High (40%), and Severe symptoms (10%). Diagnosis and fecal calprotectin were not associated with profile membership, but female gender, comorbidity, time since diagnosis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-type symptoms were associated with High and Severe symptoms profiles. Depression, anxiety, negative symptom perceptions, all-or-nothing and avoidance behaviors significantly increased the relative risk of High and Severe symptoms profile membership.

CONCLUSIONS

Many participants experienced symptoms even when deemed to be in clinical remission. After controlling for clinical, inflammatory, and demographic factors, the relative risk of High or Severe symptom profile membership was associated with potentially modifiable cognitive behavioral factors. These factors were also associated with IBS-type symptoms. Recognizing the potential impact of cognitive behavioral factors in exacerbating symptoms can lead to earlier identification of patients who require support and allows treatment plans to be tailored more precisely. The findings from this study promote a more integrated approach to IBD management, combining medical treatment with cognitive behavioral interventions to enhance patient care and improve outcomes.

Modifiable Factors Influencing Disease Flares in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Overview of Lifestyle, Psychological, and Environmental Risk Factors

Background: A significant concern for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is predicting and managing disease flares. While healthcare providers rely on biomarkers, providing conclusive patient advice remains challenging. This review explores the role of lifestyle, psychological health, and environmental exposures in the prediction and management of IBD flares. Methods: This review followed PRISMA guidelines (2020). A structured search was conducted in PubMed for articles published between 2012 and 2024, using free and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms for predicting factors in IBD. Inclusion criteria included studies reporting primary data on modifiable clinical or environmental predictors of IBD relapse, excluding studies on post-operative investigations, treatment cessation, and pediatric or pregnant populations. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the quality of the studies. Results: Out of 2287 identified citations, 58 articles were included. Several modifiable factors influencing disease flares were identified, including psychological stress, sleep disturbances, smoking, and nutrition. Poor sleep quality and mental health were linked to increased flare risks, while smoking was associated with higher relapse rates in Crohn's disease. Environmental exposures, such as heat waves and high-altitude regions, also contributed. Predictive models integrating clinical, lifestyle, and psychological factors showed promising accuracy but require further refinement. Limitations of this review include the potential for publication bias, variability in flare definitions, and limited sample sizes Conclusions: Key predictors of IBD flares include dietary factors, psychological stress, poor sleep quality, and pharmacological influences. Personalized approaches integrating these predictors can optimize disease control and improve patient outcomes.

Gender and Sex Differences in Abdominal Pain, Fatigue, And Psychological Symptoms Among Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Network Analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience a high symptom burden, including abdominal pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances; yet, little is known regarding the relationship between sex and gender on symptoms. We sought to report symptom severity for cisgender men, cisgender women, and transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals. In addition, we used network analysis to identify core symptoms and explore if symptoms and their relationships differ between cisgender men and cisgender women.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. We recruited adults with IBD online through ResearchMatch. Individuals responded to Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information symptom questionnaires, as well as demographic and clinical questionnaires. Network analysis was used to identify the core symptoms driving the symptom structure.

RESULTS

One-hundred and fifty-seven (63.3%) participants identified as cisgender women, 84 (33.9%) as cisgender men, and 7 (2.8%) as TGD. Cisgender men (M = 61.8) and TGD (M = 61.3) groups reported higher abdominal pain levels compared with cisgender women (M = 57.8; P = .02). Transgender and gender-diverse individuals reported higher depression levels (M = 64.8) compared with cisgender men (M = 56.7) and cisgender women (M = 54.4; P = .01). Using a network analysis approach, anxiety and fatigue emerged as core symptoms for the entire sample (clinically active and inactive disease), and among only those with active clinical disease. Fatigue was a top core symptom for cisgender women; anxiety emerged as a top core symptom for cisgender men.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights that fatigue and anxiety are core symptoms among individuals with IBD and demonstrates a potential sex and/or gender difference in core symptoms. Replication of this study is needed with further consideration of inclusion of TGD patients.

Editorial: Gastroenterologists should definitely draw closer attention to psychosocial comorbidities

This article is linked to Riggott et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17735