engleski

Biological and psychological determinants of health related quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome

Purpose: To examine the contribution of biological and psychological factors to the health related quality of life (HRQoL) of IBS patients. Methods: Forty eight outpatients with irritable bowel syndrome (age M=45, 20, SD=14, 15 ; 76% females) completed a set of psychosocial measures including State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). In addition, the patients filled out a symptom severity diary for 14 days. The symptom severity score was calculated as the average intensity of present symptoms over the period of measurement. The patients’ faecal calprotectin levels were also obtained. Results: In order to determine which factors contribute to the patients’ quality of life, we performed two regression analyses (using backward selection method). The dependent variables used were the two composite scores of SF-36 – physical and mental component, respectively, while the predictors were anxiety, depression, visceral anxiety, symptom severity and calprotectin. The results of the analyses showed that depression was the only significant predictor of the mental component of HRQoL (β=-, 65 ; p<, 01), while the physical component of HRQoL was predicted by calprotectin (β=-, 34 ; p<, 01), depression (β=-, 31 ; p<, 05), anxiety (β=-, 27 ; p<, 05), and symptom severity (β=-, 25 ; p<, 05). Discussion: The results indicate that higher levels of depression and anxiety are indicative of lower HRQoL in general. This implies that addressing depression and anxiety symptoms through psychological treatment could increase the patients’ HRQoL. Additionally, with regard to the physical component of HRQoL we should also take into account calprotectin levels and symptom severity scores due to their significant contribution to this aspect of HRQoL.

general and specific health related quality of life ; visceral and trait anxiety ; depression ; calprotectin

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