Bowel urgency in ulcerative colitis linked to disease-related disability
Bowel urgency is common among adults with ulcerative colitis (UC), especially those without diarrhea or rectal bleeding, and is associated with disease-related disability, according to a study published recently in Gastro Hep Advances.
This study, published in Gastro Hep Advances, reveals a strong link between bowel urgency and disability among adults with ulcerative colitis (UC). Dr. Chung Sang Tse and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania conducted a study involving 241 patients with UC to investigate this relationship. They found that 48% of patients experienced moderate-to-severe bowel urgency, with 75% of those without diarrhea or rectal bleeding also reporting urgency.
The researchers discovered that bowel urgency is strongly correlated with disability, with a correlation coefficient (ρ) of 0.597. Negative illness perceptions, lower self-efficacy, and higher health-related social needs were found to mediate the association between bowel urgency and disability. Gastrointestinal symptoms accounted for 40% of the variance in disability, while psychosocial factors contributed an additional 19%.
The authors emphasize that psychotherapists treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease should be aware of this link, as bowel urgency may underlie or worsen social anxiety and behavioral avoidance.
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