Impact of Fatigue on Work Productivity, Activity Impairment, and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Objectives: Fatigue is commonly reported in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), including patients with inactive disease. We explored the impact of fatigue on healthcare utilization (HCU) and work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI).

Methods: Data collected between 2017 and 2022 were analyzed from the CorEvitas IBD Registry. We compared HCU and WPAI among subjects with high fatigue (PROMIS ≥55) versus low fatigue at enrollment and subjects whose fatigue score worsened or persisted versus low fatigue at 6 months. HCU was defined as an inflammatory bowel disease-related hospitalization or emergency room visit. WPAI included presenteeism, absenteeism, and lost WPAI. Logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results: Study patients (640 CD, 569 UC) reported high rates of fatigue, 47% in CD and 38% in UC, that persisted at least 6 months in 88%-89% of patients. Patients with UC with high fatigue had 3-fold higher rates of HCU and 2-3-fold more absenteeism and activity impairment than patients with low fatigue. Patients with CD with high fatigue had no difference in HCU but did experience 2-4-fold more absenteeism, presenteeism, work productivity loss, and activity impairment. On subgroup analysis of patients in remission, those with high fatigue did not have higher rates of HCU but continued to have higher rates of WPAI.

Conclusions: Fatigue is associated with an increase in HCU only in the setting of concomitantly active disease. On the other hand, fatigue is associated with a negative impact on WPAI in the setting of both active and inactive disease.