Quality of Life in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis During the Covid-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Single Centre in Latvia

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), have a higher risk of anxiety and depression compared to healthy individuals. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether the COVID-19 outbreak influenced inflammatory bowel disease-specific quality of life. In total 49 ulcerative colitis (UC) outpatients from Rīga East Clinical University Hospital were included in a cross-sectional study from June to December 2021. The patients were divided according to COVID-19 status (COVID-19 positive vs COVID-19 negative) in the last six months. Patients were interviewed and data from the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ), questionnaire about daily life aspects and subjective health evaluation score were collected. Of the 49 patients, 33 (63.3%) were males and 13 (36.7%) were females; median age was 38.0 (IQR = 17) years. Fourteen patients (28.6%) were COVID-19+ within the last six months. The median SIBDQ score was 62 (IQR = 11), for men 63 (IQR = 7.5) and women 58 [(IQR = 13.8), p > 0.05. SIBDQ score was 63 (IQR = 10) for COVID-19 negative and 60 (IQR = 15.6), p > 0.05 for positive patients. Sleep was not influenced by gender, p = 0.008. Three (16.7%) female patients reported a great negative impact on working stability (p = 0.044) and a slightly negative influence on income (p = 0.039). The COVID-19 outbreak may have an influence on daily life aspects by predisposing females more negatively.