In Which form of Inflammatory bowel Disease Is Reduction in Quality of Life more Common: Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease?

Document Type : Research/Original Article

Authors

1 Independent Researcher, Orlando, FL, USA

2 Independent Researcher, Tehran, Iran

10.30476/acrr.2026.108827.1268

Abstract

Background: Despite differences in histopathological features and prognostic characteristics between
ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, the difference in the patients’ quality of life with these two conditions
remains unclear. Our goal was to evaluate the differences in various aspects of the quality of life with these two
forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD. The sample
comprised 120 patients with ulcerative colitis and 120 with Crohn’s disease, all of whom had been diagnosed
for at least six months prior to the study. Baseline characteristics were collected by interviewing the patients.
Quality of life was assessed using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ-32).
Results: Comparing different components of quality of life between the patients with ulcerative colitis and
Crohn’s disease showed a significantly higher mean score for emotional and social functioning; however, no
difference was observed in the mean scores for systemic symptoms and bowel symptoms between the two
groups. Overall, the comparison of general quality of life score between the groups with ulcerative colitis and
Crohn’s disease showed a significantly higher mean score for the latter group, even after adjusting baseline
parameters. The overall quality of life score was significantly higher in patients with Crohn’s disease compared
to ulcerative colitis (P<0.001), and this difference remained significant after multivariable adjustment (P<0.001).
Conclusion: More severe disturbances in various aspects of quality of life should be expected in patients with
ulcerative colitis compared to those with Crohn’s disease. This difference remained significant after adjustment
for baseline characteristics. Greater attention to psychosocial support in patients with ulcerative colitis may
help improve quality of life.

Highlights

Seyedehfatemeh Rasouli (Google Scholar)

Keywords


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