Research focus on vital limitations of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

Chronic diseases, whose burden is regarded as one of the major challenges for national healthcare systems, significantly affect quality of life and contribute to the formation of vital limitations in daily life. Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases are forced to live with a long-term and severe illness; some symptoms persist even during clinical remission and negatively affect social relationships, as well as personal, professional, and everyday life. This study aimed to examine the vital limitations of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases based on scientific data. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology. Relevant publications were identified through the PubMed and eLIBRARY.RU databases for the period 2001–2024. The final analysis included 54 publications selected by keywords: соматические и социальные ограничения при воспалительных заболеваниях кишечника / somatic and social limitations in inflammatory bowel diseases, качество жизни / quality of life, бремя хронических заболеваний / the burden of chronic diseases, as well as by reference lists of retrieved articles. Inclusion criteria: original studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses containing data on vital limitations in inflammatory bowel diseases. Case reports and expert opinions were excluded. Vital limitations of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases were examined from the perspective of the sociology of everyday life, where they are interpreted as barriers to daily living, and the sociology of medicine, which addresses the social perception of health, life with a chronic illness, and public attitudes toward the patient. Research studies highlight vital limitations arising in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases or treatment complications, encompassing various aspects of daily functioning. Given their impact on quality of life and clinical prognosis, these limitations should be considered in the development of a continuum of integrated medical and social care for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.