Health-related quality-of-life in Crohn's disease

Health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) questionnaires are used to assess HRQOL, sometimes referred to as functional status or lifestyle. These 'scores', which better reflect the impact of both disease-related as well as disease-independent features of HRQOL may be useful for clinicians attempting to individualise patient treatment. A variety of generic and disease-specific instruments are available and the intended application of such instruments may differ. Children and adults, as well as different subgroups of patients, may experience different problems which require careful selection of specific treatment or recommendation of changes in society as well as patient and physician behaviour. Patients with Crohn's disease experience impaired HRQOL as measured by global, generic and disease-specific HRQOL instruments. However, a majority of patients experience relatively good HRQOL. Function, perceptions and questionnaire properties affect measurement of disease impact. Examples of these features are discussed.