Fatigue in IBD Is Not Considered Reduced With Stricter Definitions of Remission

What To Know

This study from the IBSEN III cohort looked at how common substantial and chronic fatigue were in people with newly diagnosed IBD one year after diagnosis and whether stricter definitions of remission changed fatigue prevalence.

Overall, substantial fatigue affected about 45%–55% and chronic fatigue 25%–35% depending on remission definition; stricter remission definitions did not clearly lower fatigue rates. Among patients in endoscopic/radiological remission, chronic fatigue was independently associated with sleep disturbances and current treatment with infliximab.

The findings suggest that ongoing bowel inflammation (as measured by stricter remission categories) may be less important for fatigue than other factors like sleep problems. The authors note limitations including smaller sample sizes in some remission groups and possible bias from more frequent follow-up in sicker patients.

If you have fatigue despite being in clinical or endoscopic remission, this study highlights sleep disturbance and certain treatments (infliximab was associated in this cohort) as factors linked to continued fatigue, but it does not establish cause–effect or recommend changes to therapy.

For full details and author disclosures, see the original J Crohns Colitis study cited in the article.