Chronic fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, also known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Chronic fatigue has multiple causes, including alterations in immune system or gut microbiota, psychological factors, and sleeping problems. Unsurprisingly, fatigue has been associated with decreased quality of life, general well-being, and work productivity. Very few patients experience resolution in fatigue, emphasizing the need for new therapies. It has been shown that lifestyle interventions can improve most of fatigue-driving factors. Hence, the investigators hypothesize that a multimodal lifestyle intervention focusing on nutrition, sleep, stress, and exercise will improve chronic fatigue in patients with IBD. During this multicenter, controlled trial, the investigators will compare a multimodal lifestyle intervention to a standard therapy (i.e., an informational brochure on how to cope with chronic fatigue).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
72
A digital lifestyle intervention divided into two phases: 1. An intensive phase lasting six months 2. a facultative phase lasting six months During the Intensive Phase, participants will receive regular counseling by a nutritionist and a lifestyle coach in groups of 25 people. Participants will also follow five online meetings focusing on either nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress. In addition, participants will have 24/7 access to an online platform that contains additional information, challenges, recipes, and peer-support groups. Finally, during the facultative phase, participants can attend smaller group sessions for additional counseling by a nutritionist or a lifestyle coach; these sessions will be organized every six to 12 weeks.
The standard of care for patients with IBD suffering from chronic fatigue.
Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)
Leiden, Netherlands
Fatigue at six months
Percentage of patients who experience a reduction in fatigue at six months compared between the intervention and the control group. The reduction in fatigue is defined as any increase in The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue ((FACIT-F) score (0-160 with lower scores indicating worse fatigue) at six months compared with the baseline.
Time frame: Six months after starting the intervention
Mean change in fatigue (FACIT-F)
Mean change in fatigue (measured by FACIT-F questionnaire 0-160 with lower scores indicating worse fatigue) compared between the intervention and the control; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in fatigue (fatigue VAS)
Mean change in fatigue (measured by a fatigue visual analog scale (VAS) 0-10 with higher scores indicating worse fatigue) compared between the intervention and the control; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in quality of life (SIBDQ)
Mean change in quality of life (measured by Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) 10-70 with higher scores indicating better quality of life) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in quality of life (EQ-5D VAS)
Mean change in quality of life (measured by EuroQoL 5 Dimension Visual Analog Score (EQ-5D VAS) 0-100 with higher scores indicating better quality of life) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in activity impairment
Mean change in activity impairment (measured by Work Activity and Productivity Impairment: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (WPAI:IBD) 0-100% with higher percentages indicating greater impairment) questionnaire) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at six months and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean Clinically Important Difference in fatigue (FACIT-F)
Percentage of participants who reached the Mean Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in the FACIT-F (MCID = 4) scores compared between the intervention and control group at different time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean Clinically Important Difference in quality of life (SIBDQ)
Percentage of participants who reached the Mean Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in the SIBDQ (MCID = 9) scores compared between the intervention and control group at different time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean Clinically Important Difference in quality of life (EQ-5D VAS).
Percentage of participants who reached the Mean Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in the EQ-5D VAS (MCID = 4.2) scores compared between the intervention and control group at different time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean Clinically Important Difference in activity impairment (WPAI:IBD)
Percentage of participants who reached the Mean Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in the WPAI:IBD (MCID= 7) scores compared between the intervention and control group at different time points.
Time frame: at six months and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in dietary quality measured by Adjusted Mediterranean Diet Serving Score
Mean change in dietary quality (measured by Adjusted Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (Adjusted-MDSS) 0-17 with higher scores indicating better diet quality and adherence to the diet) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in physical exercise
Mean change in physical exercise (Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity (SQUASH) expressed in minutes of light/moderate/intensive exercise per week) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in perceived stress
Mean change in perceived stress (measured by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) 0-40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in coping with the illness
Mean change in coping (measured by Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQR) 0-10 with higher scores indicating a more threatening view of the illness) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in medical consumption
Mean change in medical consumption (measured by iMTA Medical Consumption Questionnaire (iMCQ) expressed as incurred costs per timepoint with higher costs indicating higher medical consumption) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Mean change in sleep quality
Mean change in sleep quality (measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) 0-21 with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality) compared between the intervention and the control group; compared at different study time points.
Time frame: at three months, at six months, and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Correlation between fatigue and lifestyle (i.e., nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress)
Correlation between changes in lifestyle parameters and effect parameters (i.e., which part of the lifestyle intervention (e.g., physical activity or sleep quality) improved fatigue scores).
Time frame: baseline, at six months and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Correlation between locus of control and lifestyle changes
Correlation between locus of control (Health Monitor questionnaire) at baseline and changes in lifestyle parameters and effect parameters.
Time frame: baseline, at six months and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
Cost-effectiveness of the intervention
Cost-effectiveness of the intervention based on Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY's) expressed as 1 (perfect health) to 0 (dead).
Time frame: at six months and at 12 months after the start of the intervention.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.