ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the quality of life (QOL) and its influential factors in the aged patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods A cross-sectional survey of the UC patients was conducted by Chinese version of inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (C-IBDQ).The influential factors for QOL in elderly patients with UC were evaluated and analyzed by correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.Results A total of 90 aged UC patients finished the questionnaire study.The overall score of QOL in the aged UC patients was (175.7±37.6),and the score of each item was decreased,especially in the aspect of economic burden,emotional function and systemic symptoms.Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the influential factors for QOL were sex,disease severity,duration,disease activity and the payment.The scores of bowel symptoms were higher in men than in women [(53.9±12.1) vs.(49.1±10.5),P=0.049].The QOL scores were lower in patients with the duration less than one year than over one year (P＜ 0.05).The QOL scores were lower in severe patients than in mild patients (P＜ 0.05).The QOL scores were lower in patients during active period than during remission period [(149.7 ± 35.1) vs.(193.9 ± 27.3),t=6.731,P=0.000].The QOL scores of patients whose medical cost was mainly paid by themselves were lower than those paid by insurance.And there were significant differences in systemic symptom,social function and economic burden (all P＜ 0.05).Conclusions The QOL of the aged UC patients is impaired in varying degree.The influential factors for QOL are sex,disease severity,duration,disease activity and the payment.The QOL in UC patients is obviously affected by economic burden.