Fatigue and Physical Activity Patterns in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

  • Nanja Bevers*
  • , Els Van de Vijver
  • , Adrienne Hanssen
  • , Arta Aliu
  • , Saskia Vande Velde
  • , Ella Roelant
  • , Ashkan Rezazadeh Ardabili
  • , Philippe Rosias
  • , Janneke Stapelbroek
  • , Imke Bertrams Maartens
  • , Cathelijne van de Feen
  • , Johanna Escher
  • , Annemarie Oudshoorn
  • , Sarah Teklenburg-Roord
  • , Anita Vreugdenhil
  • , Marie Pierik
  • , Patrick van Rheenen
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)
25 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: 

Fatigue is a common symptom in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diagnostic tests to evaluate biological causes of fatigue commonly include markers of inflammation and hemoglobin (Hb), yet functional parameters have been inadequately studied in pediatric IBD. In this study, we compared fatigued and non-fatigued children with IBD from both a biological and functional point of view. 

METHODS: 

A cross-sectional study of 104 pediatric IBD patients with mild to moderately active IBD was conducted. Fatigued children were defined as those with a Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale z score <-2.0. Non-fatigued children had a z score ≥-2.0. Disease-specific quality of life (measured with IMPACT-III score), C-reactive protein (CRP), fecal calprotectin (FC), hemoglobin z score (Hb z score), and physical activity tests including 6-minute walking distance z score (6MWD z score) and triaxial accelerometry (TA) were evaluated. 

RESULTS: 

Fatigued children (n = 24) had a significant lower IMPACT-III score than non-fatigued children (n = 80). Hb z scores, CRP, FC, and 6MWD z scores were not significantly different between groups. TA was performed in 71 patients. Wear time validation requirements were met in only 31 patients. Fatigued patients spent significant shorter median time in moderate-to-vigorous activity than non-fatigued patients (18.3 vs 37.3 minutes per day, P = 0.008). 

CONCLUSION: 

Biological parameters did not discriminate fatigued from non-fatigued patients. TA possibly distinguishes fatigued from non-fatigued patients; the potential association may provide a target for interventions to combat fatigue and improve quality of life.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)628-633
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Volume77
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 by European Society for European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.

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