Clinical Trials Study
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2015; 21(2): 600-608
Published online Jan 14, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i2.600
Intervention to increase physical activity in irritable bowel syndrome shows long-term positive effects
Elisabet Johannesson, Gisela Ringström, Hasse Abrahamsson, Riadh Sadik
Elisabet Johannesson, Gisela Ringström, Hasse Abrahamsson, Riadh Sadik, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41345 Göteborg, Sweden
Elisabet Johannesson, Närhälsan Sörhaga, Rehabilitation Unit, 44183 Alingsås, Sweden
Author contributions: Johannesson E and Sadik R designed the research; Johannesson E, Ringström G, Abrahamsson H and Sadik R performed the research; Johannesson E, Ringström G, Abrahamsson H and Sadik R contributed in the statistical analysis, analysis and interpretation of data; Johannesson E, Ringström G and Sadik R contributed with administrative, technical and material support; Johannesson E, Ringström G, Abrahamsson H and Sadik R wrote the paper; all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Grant from the Health and Medical Care Executive Board of the Västra Götaland Region and the Research and Development Council in Södra Älvsborg, Sweden, No. VGFOUSA-181101, No. VGFOUREG-226761, No. VGFOUREG-293471 and No. VGFOUREG-386221.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Elisabet Johannesson, Registered Physiotherapist, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Magtarmlab, Blåstråket 3, Sahlgrenska Hospital, 41345 Göteborg, Sweden. elisabet.johannesson@vgregion.se
Telephone: +46-31-3428107 Fax: +46-31-3428107
Received: May 10, 2014
Peer-review started: May 10, 2014
First decision: July 8, 2014
Revised: July 29, 2014
Accepted: October 15, 2014
Article in press: October 15, 2014
Published online: January 14, 2015
Processing time: 253 Days and 13.8 Hours
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: Gastrointestinal diseases; Irritable bowel syndrome; Exercise; Follow-up; Physical activity

Core tip: Increased physical activity for 12 wk has been shown to improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. This follow-up study found that the patients included in an intervention to increase physical activity show improvements in IBS symptoms, as well as different aspects of the disease specific quality of life, fatigue, depression and anxiety on the long term. The study supports the evidence for the positive effects of physical activity in IBS and defends physical activity as a treatment option for IBS.