P0954 Food-related quality of life and dietary choices are associated with disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Døssing A S Y , Bager P , Julsgaard M , Borre M , Whelan K , Hvas C L , Rud C L 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Food-related quality of life (FRQoL) is the enjoyment experienced from the psychosocial aspects of eating and drinking. FRQoL may be altered in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Meanwhile, patients often change their diet following their diagnosis. We aimed to describe FRQoL and dietary choices in patients with IBD using validated questionnaires and identify potential predictors of impaired FRQoL.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional, single-centre survey. The FR-QoL-291 and dietary belief2 questionnaires were forward-backwards translated from English into Danish, face-validated and pilot-tested. The translated questionnaires were included in an online survey, in addition to other questionnaires on health-related QoL, fatigue, and diet. The questionnaires were distributed to all adult patients with proven IBD at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

Results
Of 2,655 invitees, 1,262 patients (47.5%) responded. Of the responders, 37.6% had Crohn’s disease (CD), and 60.2% were women. Median (IQR) age was 46 (32-61) years, and median duration since diagnosis was 11 (5-22) years. Mean [95% CI] FR-QoL-29 score was 103.8 [102.2 – 105.4], and it was lower in women than men (-6.5 [-3.3 – -9.8] p&lt;0.001) and lower in CD than ulcerative colitis (-3.7 [-0.4 – -7.0], p=0.027), indicating impaired FRQoL (Figure 1). The patients with IBD in Denmark had considerably higher FR-QoL-29 scores than patients with IBD in the UK (+23 [21 – 25], p&lt;0.001). FR-QoL-29 scores were statistically significantly inversely correlated with disease activity but not with age, years with IBD, medication use, living status, or diet form. Since their IBD diagnosis, 42% of responders had changed their diet, 28.4% believed that diet could be the cause of IBD, and 59.6% believed that their diet could cause a relapse in their disease. Nearly half (46.7%) avoided specific foods to prevent a relapse, and FR-QoL-29 was lower in this group compared with those who did not avoid specific foods (-27.8 [-25.0 – -30.7], p&lt;0.001). Forty-seven per cent reported that certain foods worsen symptoms during a relapse, and 18.2% reported that certain foods may help reduce symptoms during a relapse. Three-quarters (74.9%) took dietary supplements such as vitamins.

Conclusion
Current disease severity and recent relapse are associated with reduced FRQoL in patients with IBD. Controlled trials are needed to investigate whether dietary modifications can help alleviate symptoms during IBD flares, improve FRQoL, and potentially reduce the risk of future flares.

References
1.Whelan K, Murrells T, Morgan M, et al. Food-related quality of life is impaired in inflammatory bowel disease and associated with reduced intake of key nutrients. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;113(4):832-844.
2.Limdi JK, Aggarwal D, McLaughlin JT. Dietary Practices and Beliefs in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016;22(1):164-170.