The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usage

Abstract Background Depression is common in people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Depression rates increase with active disease and are linked to poorer clinical outcomes. Previous studies investigating the relationship between contemporaneous IBD disease activity and depression are o...

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Main Authors: Natasha Seaton, Vari Wileman, Christine Norton, Joanna Hudson, Valeria Mondelli, Rona Moss-Morris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03691-8
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author Natasha Seaton
Vari Wileman
Christine Norton
Joanna Hudson
Valeria Mondelli
Rona Moss-Morris
author_facet Natasha Seaton
Vari Wileman
Christine Norton
Joanna Hudson
Valeria Mondelli
Rona Moss-Morris
author_sort Natasha Seaton
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Depression is common in people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Depression rates increase with active disease and are linked to poorer clinical outcomes. Previous studies investigating the relationship between contemporaneous IBD disease activity and depression are often poorly controlled, use small samples and/or rely on self-reported measures of disease activity. Depression and self-reported disease activity (SRDA) are linked to increased healthcare usage, however, objective inflammation is rarely statistically controlled. The primary aim was to understand how self-reported disease activity and inflammation are related to depression. Secondary aims included assessing the relative influence of self-reported disease activity, inflammation and depression on healthcare usage. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected as part of a randomised controlled trial (trial registration no: ISRCTN71618461) of a digital treatment for symptom self-management in IBD (n = 599). Bivariate associations of demographic and clinical variables with depression were conducted to identify relevant covariates. Multiple linear regressions assessed (i) the relationships between depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)), SRDA (IBD-Control) and intestinal inflammation (faecal calprotectin (FCP)) and (ii) whether these variables explained variance in healthcare usage and economic indicators. Results Depression was significantly predicted by SRDA (β = -0.82, p < 0.001) but not FCP, with the model explaining 37% of the variance in depression (F(2,596) = 175.1, p < 0.001). FCP was only weakly associated with SRDA (r = -0.16, p < 0.001). Depression was independently associated with visits to primary care (β = 0.19, p < 0.001), IBD secondary care (β = 0.13, p < 0.001), IBD-related A&E attendance (β = 0.10 p < 0.05) and the impact of IBD on productivity (β = 0.24 p < 0.001) in the last 3 months. Conclusions Depression was related to SRDA but not FCP. Depression was also associated with healthcare usage even when SRDA and inflammation were statistically controlled. Routinely assessing and treating depression in IBD alongside managing inflammation may improve symptoms for patients and reduce healthcare costs.
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spelling doaj-art-c23a5d5e4abc4e3a85bbf3398841b5712025-08-20T01:57:47ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-03-0125111310.1186/s12876-025-03691-8The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usageNatasha Seaton0Vari Wileman1Christine Norton2Joanna Hudson3Valeria Mondelli4Rona Moss-Morris5Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonPsychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonNursing Midwifery & Palliative Care, King’s College LondonPsychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonPsychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonPsychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonAbstract Background Depression is common in people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Depression rates increase with active disease and are linked to poorer clinical outcomes. Previous studies investigating the relationship between contemporaneous IBD disease activity and depression are often poorly controlled, use small samples and/or rely on self-reported measures of disease activity. Depression and self-reported disease activity (SRDA) are linked to increased healthcare usage, however, objective inflammation is rarely statistically controlled. The primary aim was to understand how self-reported disease activity and inflammation are related to depression. Secondary aims included assessing the relative influence of self-reported disease activity, inflammation and depression on healthcare usage. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected as part of a randomised controlled trial (trial registration no: ISRCTN71618461) of a digital treatment for symptom self-management in IBD (n = 599). Bivariate associations of demographic and clinical variables with depression were conducted to identify relevant covariates. Multiple linear regressions assessed (i) the relationships between depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)), SRDA (IBD-Control) and intestinal inflammation (faecal calprotectin (FCP)) and (ii) whether these variables explained variance in healthcare usage and economic indicators. Results Depression was significantly predicted by SRDA (β = -0.82, p < 0.001) but not FCP, with the model explaining 37% of the variance in depression (F(2,596) = 175.1, p < 0.001). FCP was only weakly associated with SRDA (r = -0.16, p < 0.001). Depression was independently associated with visits to primary care (β = 0.19, p < 0.001), IBD secondary care (β = 0.13, p < 0.001), IBD-related A&E attendance (β = 0.10 p < 0.05) and the impact of IBD on productivity (β = 0.24 p < 0.001) in the last 3 months. Conclusions Depression was related to SRDA but not FCP. Depression was also associated with healthcare usage even when SRDA and inflammation were statistically controlled. Routinely assessing and treating depression in IBD alongside managing inflammation may improve symptoms for patients and reduce healthcare costs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03691-8Inflammatory bowel diseaseCrohn’s diseaseUlcerative ColitisDepressionSelf-reported disease activityFaecal calprotectin
spellingShingle Natasha Seaton
Vari Wileman
Christine Norton
Joanna Hudson
Valeria Mondelli
Rona Moss-Morris
The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usage
BMC Gastroenterology
Inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Depression
Self-reported disease activity
Faecal calprotectin
title The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usage
title_full The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usage
title_fullStr The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usage
title_full_unstemmed The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usage
title_short The relationships between depression, inflammation and self-reported disease activity in IBD and their impact on healthcare usage
title_sort relationships between depression inflammation and self reported disease activity in ibd and their impact on healthcare usage
topic Inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Depression
Self-reported disease activity
Faecal calprotectin
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03691-8
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