Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Patients' Caregivers: Results From a French Survey

• Published in: Inflammatory bowel diseases 2024-04, Vol.30 (4), p.538-546
• Main Authors: El Hajj, Weam, Buisson, Anne, Olympie, Alain, Ravel, Marie Hélène, Devos, Corinne, Trang-Poisson, Caroline, Macaigne, Gilles, Nahon, Stéphane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1078-0998; 1536-4844
• DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izad093

The impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on caregivers has rarely been investigated. Our work aims to explore the burden of IBD on the different aspects of caregivers' lives. We conducted an online survey via the social network of the French IBD patient organization addressed to patients' caregivers who were asked to fill in a questionnaire covering the impact of the disease on different aspects of their lives. Impacts were measured by a visual analog scale (VAS). A VAS score ≥5 of 10 was considered significantly high. We then performed uni- and multivariate analyses of predictors of higher impact on parents and partners, separately. A total of 853 caregivers participated, predominantly women (77%). The mean age was 48.5 years. Their relationship with the patient was mainly parents in 57.1% and partners in 30.6%. The type of IBD was Crohn's disease in 63% and ulcerative colitis in 35%. The psychological burden was the highest among parents and was mainly correlated with a lack of knowledge about IBD and professional compromise (P