P131 Fatigue most frequently reported reason for work productivity loss in inflammatory bowel disease patients

• Published in: Journal of Crohn's and colitis 2018-01, Vol.12 (supplement_1), p.S160-S161
• Main Authors: van Gennep, S, de Boer, A G, Gecse, K G, Ponsioen, C I, Sluiter, J K, D'Haens, G R, Löwenberg, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1873-9946; 1876-4479
• DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjx180.258

Abstract Background Work productivity loss is associated with disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. However, patients in clinical remission experience more work limitations than healthy controls. We aimed to explore potential differences in type of problems that lead to IBD-related absenteeism and presenteeism in patients with active vs. inactive disease. Methods IBD patients attending our outpatient clinic between 1 May 2017 and 31 August 2017 were invited to complete the electronic assessment, including Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI), patient simple clinical colitis activity index (P-SCCAI) for ulcerative colitis (UC) and patient Harvey Bradshaw Index (P-HBI) for Crohn’s disease (CD). Patients documented IBD-related reasons for absenteeism and presenteeism. Chi-square tests or Fisher’s Exact Test were used to compare outcomes for patients with active vs. inactive disease. Results Assessments were completed by 145 patients (59% female, 66% CD, and 34% UC) with mean age 43 ± 12 years and median disease duration 178 [IQR 82–298] months. Immunomodulators were used in 30% of patients, 46% received biological therapy, 18% had no systemic treatment, 6% had an ostomy, and 3% an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Absenteeism was reported in 22/47 (47%) patients with active vs. 14/98 (14%) with inactive disease (p < 0.001), and presenteeism in 35/47 (74%) patients with active vs. 44/98 (45%) with inactive disease (p = 0.001). There were no differences in absenteeism and presenteeism between CD and UC patients (p = 0.95 and p = 0.81). Fatigue (61%) and hospital visits (42%) were the most reported reasons for absenteeism and fatigue (76%) and abdominal pain (34%) for presenteeism. Percentages of patients that reported fatigue as reason for presenteeism did not differ between active vs. inactive disease (74% vs. 77%, p = 0.76). A notable reason for absenteeism and presenteeism was “side effects to IBD treatment” in 19% and 21% of patients, respectively. Conclusions Absenteeism and presenteeism are significantly more common in IBD patients with active disease. Presenteeism is also frequently reported in patients with inactive disease. The most reported reason for absenteeism and presenteeism was fatigue for patients with and without disease activity.