The impact of the COVID-19 surge after the end of China's Zero-COVID policy on the health-related quality of life of IBD patients.

Introduction: In December 2019, COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread worldwide. On December 2022, the Chinese government ended the zero-COVID policy, leading to a surge in cases and significantly impacting daily life. IBD patients face heightened infection risks and substantial effects on their quality of life during the pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected demographic, COVID-19-related, and HRQoL data from 224 IBD patients who had previously received treatment at Nanjing BenQ Medical Center. Participants completed an online survey between January 9, 2023, and January 23, 2023. The SIBDQ was used to assess HRQoL. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.

Results: The study found that UC patients reported higher HRQoL compared to CD patients (p = 0.037). Patients who perceived themselves as less susceptible to COVID-19 had higher scores (p = 0.006 and p = 0.009). Those whose work or study was unaffected also had higher scores (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). Additionally, irregular medication adherence was associated with lower HRQoL scores (p = 0.014 and p = 0.007). Multivariate linear regression results showed that IBD patients whose work or study was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic scored lower than those who were not affected (p = 0.038; 95% CI, -7.96 to -0.25). Patients who discontinued IBD medication scored higher than those with irregular medication use (p = 0.020; 95% CI, 1.00 to 10.90).

Conclusions: This study highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HRQoL of IBD patients. The findings emphasize the need for integrated care addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of IBD.