Impact of Disease Activity and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Subtype on Quality of Life in Preconception and Pregnant Patients

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pregnancy both impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, little is known about IBD-related HRQoL around pregnancy. Aims To assess the trajectory and predictors of HRQoL in preconception and pregnant patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods Preconception and pregnant patients with IBD were followed prospectively from preconception to twelve months postpartum at a tertiary referral centre. Participants completed the Short IBD Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and were assessed for clinical disease activity (modified Harvey Bradshaw Index or partial Mayo score) and objective disease activity (C-reactive protein [CRP], fecal calprotectin [FCP]). Results A total of 61 patients with IBD (25 CD, 36 UC) were included. During preconception, patients with UC had higher SIBDQ bowel and social sub-scores than those with CD, but this reversed during postpartum. Patients with CD but not UC developed a significant, sustained improvement in SIBDQ upon becoming pregnant, which persisted into 12 months postpartum. In a multivariable linear regression model, clinical disease activity negatively predicted SIBDQ at every pregnancy timepoint and up to 12 months postpartum. SIBDQ was significantly lower in patients with CRP >= 8.0 mg/L during trimester 1 (T1), but not later in pregnancy. SIBDQ bowel sub-scores were significantly lower in patients with FCP >= 250 mg/kg at T2, T3, and 6 months postpartum. Conclusions Clinical disease activity is a consistent negative predictor of HRQoL from conception to 12 months postpartum. Patients with UC experience better preconception HRQoL but suffer worse postpartum HRQoL than those with CD.

Automated summary

Clinical disease activity is a consistent negative predictor of HRQoL from conception to 12 months postpartum. Patients with UC experience better preconception HRQoL but suffer worse postpartum HRQoL than those with CD.