The burden of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation on health-related quality of life in black Africans: a comparison with healthy control subjects in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa

• Published in: Clinical and experimental gastroenterology Vol. 12; pp. 355 - 365
• Main Authors: Mahassadi, Alassan Kouamé, Ebela, Paulin Christian, Bangoura, Aboubacar Demba, Attia, Alain Koffi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.01.2019; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Age; Black Africans; Body mass index; chronic constipation; Chronic illnesses; Consent; Constipation; Diarrhea; Family medical history; Gastroenterology; Gastrointestinal diseases; Irritable bowel syndrome; Key words: irritable bowel syndrome; Marital status; Medical research; Original Research; Quality of life; SF-36 questionnaire; quality of life; black Africans; irritable bowel syndrome; chronic constipation; SF-36 questionnaire
• ISSN: 1178-7023; 1178-7023
• DOI: 10.2147/CEG.S192563

Although patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation (CC) have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), little is known in black African patients compared with control subjects. This study provided the magnitude and the influencing factors of HRQoL impairment in black African outpatients with IBS or CC compared with control subjects using the generic SF-36 questionnaire. One hundred and four consecutive black African outpatients complaining with IBS (n=72, mean age=38.9 years, female=62.5%) and CC (n=32, mean age=37.4 years, female=75%) met Rome 3 criteria were compared with 210 control subjects (mean age=37.4 years, 63.8% male). The SF-36 scores in all domains of HRQoL with the corresponding physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) composite scores between groups were compared with post hoc analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis for the assessment of the influencing factors. Overall, IBS and CC patients exhibited low SF-36 scores in the 8 domains of HRQoL in comparison with control subjects. IBS patients scored less in mental health (mean difference=-10.3, =0.001), bodily pain (mean difference=-23.5, ≤0.0001), and social functioning domains (mean difference =-15.1, =0.01) in comparison with CC patients. Post hoc analysis demonstrated a trend down of PCS (mean difference=-12.9, <0.0001) and MCS (mean difference=-11.2, =0.01) disfavoring IBS patients than those with CC in comparison with control subjects. In multivariate linear regression analysis, besides the negative impact of IBS and CC, factors influencing PCS were BMI (β=0.4; =0.01) and comorbidities (β=-5.9; =0.002). Those influencing MCS were the presence of remunerated activity (β=2.7, =0.02), and patient living alone (β=9.4; =0.04). IBS and CC impact negatively on the HRQoL in black African subjects and more importantly in those with IBS than CC.