Physical activity, exercise guidelines crucial for people with IBD

A recent study suggests the need for tailored guidelines for physical activity (PA) or exercise among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

A total of 2,740 individuals (mean age 60.8 years) in the University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry participated in this cross-sectional study and were asked to complete a survey that included sociodemographic factors, PA/exercise, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptom Inventory (IBDSI), and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).

The authors conducted bivariate and logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship of PA with disease activity and fatigue.

Of the participants, 1,257 (45.8 percent) completed the survey, among whom only 1,094 were included in the data analysis due to missing age or PA responses in 163 individuals.

For the activity status, 42.5 percent of participants were inactive, 32.0 percent were moderately active, and 25.5 percent were highly active. Activity levels did not significantly differ between those aged >55 years and <55 years.

Nearly a third of participants (38 percent) reported no impact of IBD on their PA/exercise. Moreover, individuals with Crohn’s disease tended to be more inactive than those with ulcerative colitis.

In logistic regression analysis, participants with active IBDSI were more likely to engage in lower levels of PA than those with non-active IBDSI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.51, 95 percent CI, 1.11‒2.04), those with an increase in MFIS score (aOR, 1.02, 95 percent CI, 1.01‒1.03), in females with ulcerative colitis, and in smokers.

“Future research should explore objective measures of PA to better understand PA/exercise in both younger and older adult populations,” the authors said.