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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Jan 14;21(2):600-8.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i2.600.

Intervention to increase physical activity in irritable bowel syndrome shows long-term positive effects

Elisabet Johannesson  1 , Gisela Ringström  1 , Hasse Abrahamsson  1 , Riadh Sadik  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Intervention to increase physical activity in irritable bowel syndrome shows long-term positive effects

Elisabet Johannesson et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To assess the long-term effects of physical activity on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and on quality of life, fatigue, depression and anxiety.

Methods: Seventy-six patients from a previous randomized controlled interventional study on increased physical activity in IBS were asked to participate in this long-term follow-up study. The included patients attended one visit in which they filled out questionnaires and they underwent a submaximal cycle ergometer test. The primary end point was the change in the IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) at baseline, i.e., before the intervention and at follow-up. The secondary endpoints were changes in quality of life, fatigue, depression and anxiety.

Results: A total of 39 [32 women, median age 45 (28-61) years] patients were included in this follow-up. Median follow-up time was 5.2 (range: 3.8-6.2) years. The IBS symptoms were improved compared with baseline [IBS-SSS: 276 (169-360) vs 218 (82-328), P = 0.001]. This was also true for the majority of the dimensions of psychological symptoms such as disease specific quality of life, fatigue, depression and anxiety. The reported time of physical activity during the week before the visit had increased from 3.2 (0.0-10.0) h at baseline to 5.2 (0.0-15.0) h at follow-up, P = 0.019. The most common activities reported were walking, aerobics and cycling. There was no significant difference in the oxygen uptake 31.8 (19.7-45.8) mL per min per kg at baseline vs 34.6 (19.0-54.6) mL/min per kg at follow-up.

Conclusion: An intervention to increase physical activity has positive long-term effects on IBS symptoms and psychological symptoms.

Keywords: Exercise; Follow-up; Gastrointestinal diseases; Irritable bowel syndrome; Physical activity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Inclusion of patients in the previous study and the follow-up study. GI: Gastrointestinal.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system at baseline and follow-up. IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; NS: Not significant.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hospital anxiety and depression scale at baseline and follow-up.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Fatigue impact scale at baseline and follow-up. NS: Not significant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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