Does infliximab short infusion have a beneficial impact on the quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases? A single centre prospective evaluation.

Original Publication: Cluj-Napoca, Romania : Editura Medicală Universitară "Iuliu Haţieganu", c2006-

Quality of Life*; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*administration & dosage ; Gastrointestinal Agents/*administration & dosage ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*drug therapy ; Infliximab/*administration & dosage; Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Employment ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Agents/adverse effects ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/diagnosis ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/psychology ; Infliximab/adverse effects ; Infusions, Parenteral ; Italy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Social Behavior ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology ; Young Adult

Background & Aims: Infliximab (IFX) is an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agent used in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) therapy. Usually, it is administered over a 2-hour intravenous infusion. However, shortening the infusion duration to 1 hour has proved to be feasible and safe. In the present study we evaluated whether shortening the IFX infusion could affect the patients' quality of life (QoL) compared to the standard protocol.
Methods: Subjects affected by IBD receiving IFX were prospectively recruited. The main criterion to shorten the infusion was the absence of IFX-related adverse reactions during the previous three 2-h infusions. For each patient, demographic, clinical and anthropometric data were collected. A questionnaire investigating their overall/job/social/sexual QoL was administered. Ordinal regression was performed with odds ratios (OR) for significant independent variables.
Results: Eighty-one patients were included (46 with ulcerative colitis - UC, 35 with Crohn's disease - CD). Sixteen received the 2-h infusion due to previous adverse reactions, and the remaining 65 underwent the 1-h schedule. Shortening the infusion to 1 hour determined a better QoL (OR=0.626). However, the QoL was negatively influenced by age (OR=1.023), female sex (OR=2.04) and severe disease activity (OR=7.242). One-hour IFX infusion induced a better outcome on work (OR=0.588) and social (OR=0.643) QoL. Long-standing disease was correlated with a slightly better sexual QoL (OR=0.93). Conversely, older age (OR=1.046), severe clinical score (OR=15.579), use of other immunomodulators (OR=3.693) and perianal CD (OR=3.265) were related to an unsatisfactory sexual life. The total number of infusions (OR=0.891), proctitis (OR=0.062) or pancolitis (OR=0.1) minimized the perception of infusion-related side effects.
Conclusion: The 1-h short infusion improves overall, social and job QoL, so that, when indicated, it should be recommended.

0 (Anti-Inflammatory Agents)
0 (Gastrointestinal Agents)
0 (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha)
B72HH48FLU (Infliximab)

Date Created: 20150627 Date Completed: 20160315 Latest Revision: 20181023

20240829

10.15403/jgld.2014.1121.242.tezz

26114175