Observational study on the evaluation of quality of life in patients affected by enteropathic spondyloarthritis.

Background: Enteropathic spondyloarthritis (ESpA) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have high impact on physical and psychological health but health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has never been evaluated in ESpA patients.

Purpose: Cross-sectional multidisciplinary study was performed to evaluate HRQoL, state of health, and well-being in IBD and ESpA patients.

Methods: Consecutive IBD and ESpA outpatients were enrolled. Disease activity, inflammatory parameters, function, and quality of life (EuroQol questionnaire) were assessed at visit time and compared with 12 months ago.

Results: Two hundred fifty-three IBD patients were evaluated. Ninety-five patients met inclusion criteria. ESpA was established in 65.3% IBD patients. Most ESpA patients had discreet or good health perception (65.3% and 22.5%, respectively), similar to IBD group (64.6% and 20.7%, respectively). In both groups, no patients had exceptional state of general well-being. Compared with previous 12 months, ESpA group showed improved state of health in 12% of patients, worsening in 28% and stable state of health in 60%. Similar results were obtained in IBD group. Emotional and psychological problems (anxiety, depression, and feeling of loneliness and isolation) were reported: In ESpA patients, these feelings were observed in 58.1%, 40.57%, and 29% of cases, respectively; IBD patients showed slightly lower percentage. More than half of ESpA and IBD patients reported an embarrassment about their condition and worry about disease's future progression and physical pain.

Conclusions: Well-being, quality of life, and psychological problems were described in ESpA and IBD patients. Disease management should include also social, mental, and psychological impacts, in terms of QoL.