IDDF2019-ABS-0256 Assessment of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background We assessed the prevalence of upper GI symptoms in patients with IBD and examined the association between upper GI symptoms and disease manifestations, treatment, sleep problems, and fatigue. Methods We investigated the upper GI symptoms using the frequency scale for symptoms of gastrointestinal reflux disease (FSSG) questionnaire comprising seven questions regarding reflux symptoms (RS) and five questions regarding acid-related dyspepsia (ARD). IBD outpatients completed questionnaires at their regular follow-up visit in our hospital. We also asked patients about sleep problems and fatigue with a questionnaire. We Abstracted patients‘ data from medical records including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, types of IBD, duration of IBD, surgical history, and medications. Results Total 150 patients (83 male and 67 female), 105 Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and 45 Crohn’s disease (CD) patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 43.7±16.0 years, mean BMI was 21.8±3.1, and disease duration was 9.0 years. 30 patients (20.0%) had a surgical history. Medications being used were 5-ASA in 136 (90.7%), corticosteroid in 26 (17.3%), immunomodulator in 54 (36.0%), and biologics in 54 (36.0%) patients. 62.2% of CD patients and 46.7% of UC patients reported upper GI symptoms. Female sex was associated with “heartburn after meals” (OR 3.09 (95% CI 1.11–8.64), p=0.046). FSSG scores, RS scores and ARD scores were higher in CD patients than in UC patients (p=0.01, p=0.03, and p=0.01. respectively). In particular, “unusual sensation in your throat” (OR 5.23 (95% CI 1.25–21.95), p=0.02) and “burp a lot” (OR 2.71 (95% CI 1.18–6.24), p=0.02) were observed more frequently in CD patients. Upper GI symptoms were associated with sleep disturbance (OR 2.44 (95% CI 1.12–5.34), p=0.025), and fatigue (OR 3.20 (95% CI 1.63–6.30), p=0.0009). Conclusions Upper GI symptoms in IBD patients were relatively common and have the potential to influence the sleep quality and feelings of fatigue. CD Patients suffer from upper GI symptoms more frequently compared to UC patients.