The Impact of COVID-19 on Health Anxiety and Perceived Stress Among Persons with IBD: A Population-representative Study

Overview

Journal J Can Assoc Gastroenterol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2023 Dec 18

PMID 38106479

Authors

Seth R Shaffer

Gia L Jackson

Sydney Chochinov

Casandra Dolovich

Lesley A Graff

Renee El-Gabalawy

Souradet Yuh-Nan Shaw

Harminder Singh

Charles N Bernstein

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The Corona Virus Immune Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has broadly impacted the mental health of individuals worldwide, especially with restrictions including social distancing and quarantining. Persons with IBD are at increased risk of mental health disorders. The aim was to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected adults with a chronic health issue, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), using a population-based sample.

Methods: A survey study in Manitoba was conducted during the second COVID-19 wave in autumn 2020. We assessed proportions of health anxiety and perceived stress using validated measures, as well as stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess predictors of perceived stress and health anxiety.

Results: A total of 1,384 (47.1%) persons responded, with a mean age of 58.0, and 46.9% had Crohn's disease. Almost three quarters (73.7%) had increased stress, with 37.7% having increased stress about their IBD, and 33.6% worried about their IBD worsening. 46.0% felt increased stress about accessing their doctor or nurse, and 56.5% felt they had good access to their gastroenterologist. Elevated stress and health anxiety were seen in 63.5% and 17.2% of respondents, respectively. Younger age and being on immune-modifying therapy (IMT) was predictive of increased health anxiety and stress. Longer IBD duration was associated with decreased stress, including those on IMT.

Conclusion: Persons with IBD reported high rates of stress and health anxiety early in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among those on IMT. It will be important to determine how this evolved over time and to what extent this impacted on disease course.

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