Somatization strongly impacts health-related QoL in children with IBS

Somatization is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a study has found. Moreover, somatization consistently drives HRQoL in healthy controls (HC) to the exclusion of other psychosocial concerns.

To compare the relative associations of abdominal pain and psychosocial distress with HRQoL in HC and IBS, the authors collected baseline abdominal pain, psychosocial distress, and HRQoL measures from HC and IBS paediatric clinical trial participants.

Regression was performed to determine which measures most strongly correlated with physical and psychosocial HRQoL separately by group. Interaction analyses were also conducted to assess group differences in the associations of abdominal pain and psychosocial distress with HRQoL.

Overall, 213 children with IBS and 85 HC were analysed. Somatization and functional ability showed the strongest association with physical HRQoL in HC and IBS, respectively. Somatization was also most strongly associated with psychosocial HRQoL for both groups. In addition, depression significantly correlated in HC.

Between-group difference was noted in the strength of association between somatization and physical HRQoL, with the negative association being less pronounced for IBS than HC. There was also a significantly between-group difference in the association between functional disability and both physical and psychosocial HRQoL, with negative associations being more pronounced for IBS than HC.

“The associations of somatization and functional disability with HRQoL are distinctly different between HC and IBS,” the authors said. “This knowledge supports utilization of psychosocial interventions to improve overall well-being for children with IBS.”