Quality of Life in Cohabitants of Patients Suffering Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition with a significant impact on patients’ general health perception. No studies have considered consequences of IBD on cohabitants. (2) Aims: The aims of this study were to address the influence of IBD on cohabitants’ quality of life (QoL) and the factors potentially conditioning this impact. (3) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which IBD patients and their cohabitants were invited to participate. Validated questionnaires were used to measure QoL in patients and cohabitants. Main clinical and sociodemographic variables were collected. (4) Results: A total of 56 patients and 82 cohabitants with significant QoL impairment were included. A direct association was found between Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ32) score in patients and the Household Members Quality of Life—Inflammatory Bowel Disease (HHMQoL-IBD). IBDQ32 was related to the number of flares in the last 12 months, number of hospital admissions and Mayo Score. (5) Conclusions: HHMQoL-IBD score was related to patients IBDQ32 score and the presence of extraintestinal disease. We identified CRP, a marker of disease activity, as a factor related to cohabitants’ quality of life, pointing to a direct relationship of patients’ disease activity and their cohabitants’ quality of life.