Prospective validation study of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health score in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Rupert W L Leong; Tony Huang; Yanna Ko; Ari Jeon; Jeff Chang; Friedbert Kohler; Viraj Kariyawasam

doi:10.1016/j.crohns.2014.02.028

Prospective validation study of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health score in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

J Crohns Colitis. 2014 Oct;8(10):1237-45. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2014.02.028. Epub 2014 Mar 21.

Authors

Rupert W L Leong¹, Tony Huang², Yanna Ko², Ari Jeon³, Jeff Chang², Friedbert Kohler⁴, Viraj Kariyawasam³

Affiliations

¹ Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Hospital, Hospital Rd, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Hospital, Hospital Rd, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
³ Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Hospital, Hospital Rd, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, Australia.
⁴ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Braeside Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 24662396
DOI: 10.1016/j.crohns.2014.02.028

Abstract

Background and aims: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may result in disability. We aim to validate a novel scoring system for the IBD disability index (IBD-DI), and identify predictors of disability and its correlation with work absenteeism.

Methods: This prospective IBD ambulatory clinic cohort study measured IBD-DI, Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) for Crohn's disease (CD) or partial Mayo score (pMayo) for ulcerative colitis (UC), IBDQ quality-of-life, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment. Negative IBD-DI represented greater disability. Validation tests were performed and predictors and extent of work absenteeism were determined.

Results: 166 consecutive subjects were recruited (75 CD, 41 UC, 50 controls). IBD-DI correlated with CDAI (r=-0.77, P<0.001), pMayo (r=-0.82, P<0.001) and IBDQ (r=0.86, P<0.001). IBD-DI differentiated CD, and UC from controls (medians -7, -4, +10; P<0.001) with a score of >3.5 identifying controls with 94% sensitivity and 83% specificity (area-under-curve 0.92). Stable patients had unchanged IBD-DI (P=ns) but not in those who relapsed (P<0.001). Intraclass correlation was 0.89 and Cronbach's alpha of internal consistency was 0.94. Diagnosis age, sex, phenotype, perianal disease, prior surgery, steroid-use and disease duration did not influence the IBD-DI but active use of biological agents significantly reduced disability (P=0.03). 21.6% of IBD patients had moderate-severe disability equating to missing >25% of work hours in the previous week. Multivariate analysis identified that only IBD-DI to be predictive of unemployment status (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89-0.99).

Conclusions: The IBD-DI is a valid tool measuring disability in both CD and UC and correlates with workforce participation. It is a potential useful tool in the assessment of participation restriction and activity limitation.

Trial registration: ACTRN12613000903785.

Keywords: Colitis; Crohn's; Disability; Employment; Inflammatory bowel disease; Work.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Absenteeism*
Adult
Case-Control Studies
Colitis, Ulcerative* / complications
Crohn Disease* / complications
Disability Evaluation*
Efficiency
Employment
Female
Humans
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health*
Male
Prospective Studies
ROC Curve
Severity of Illness Index*
Surveys and Questionnaires