Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39444240›Full record

ArticleAlimentary pharmacology & therapeutics2025

Factors Associated With Abdominal Pain in Patients With Active and Quiescent Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicohort Study.

Tom van Gils, Hans Törnblom, Jóhann P Hreinsson, Börje Jonefjäll, Hans Strid, Magnus Simrén

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Tom van GilsDepartment of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0006-2103-9491
Hans TörnblomDepartment of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-2117-9874
Jóhann P HreinssonDepartment of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-0078-3063
Börje JonefjällDepartment of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-1540-0619
Hans StridGastroenterology Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Dermatovenereology and Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Magnus SimrénDepartment of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-1155-1313

Funding

Alice Swenzons FoundationGothenburg Medical Society and foundation of Elin and Carl Linder GLS-406621Health & Medical Care Committee of the Regional Executive Board Region in Västra Götaland 119011Healthcare Committee Region Västra Götaland 554651Healthcare Committee Region Västra Götaland 733981Healthcare Committee Region Västra Götaland 929698Local Research and Development Council Södra ÄlvsborgSwedish Medical Research Council 13409Swedish Medical Research Council 2015-02317Swedish Medical Research Council 2018-02566Swedish Medical Research Council 2019-01052Swedish Medical Research Council 21691Swedish Medical Research Council 21692Swedish Medical Research Council 737881Swedish Medical Research Council 932651Swedish Society of Medicine SLS-329111the Faculty of Medicine, University of Gothenburg
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAbdominal pain can be an overlooked symptom in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

aimsThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with abdominal pain in active and quiescent UC.

methodsThree study cohorts of adult UC patients were used. Cross-sectional cohorts I and II included 130 (46 active) and 288 (156 active) patients. Longitudinal cohort III included 83 patients with active disease at diagnosis that reached deep remission during follow-up. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale was used to assess abdominal pain and other validated questionnaires to assess psychological distress, fatigue and quality of life (QoL).

resultsIn the two cross-sectional cohorts, 63% and 58% of the active vs. 54% and 33% of the quiescent UC patients reported abdominal pain (both p ≤ 0.02). In the longitudinal cohort, 71% had abdominal pain at diagnosis vs. 46% when in remission (p < 0.001). In multivariable models, symptoms of anxiety were associated with higher abdominal pain levels in both cross-sectional cohorts (OR 1.75 [IQR 1.11-2.76] and OR 1.99 [1.45-2.73]), whereas in cohort II, active disease (OR 2.68 [1.61-4.45]) and female sex (OR 2.03 [1.21-3.41]) were also associated with pain. QoL was negatively correlated with higher levels of abdominal pain, both in active and quiescent disease.

conclusionsAbdominal pain in UC is prevalent and associated with lower QoL in both active and quiescent disease. Associated factors are active disease, female sex and psychological symptoms, especially anxiety. We suggest considering a holistic approach when treating UC patients with abdominal pain.

Indexed as

Abdominal PainColitis, UlcerativeQuality of LifeAdultAnxietyCohort StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFatigueFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceSurveys and Questionnairesabdominal painpsychological symptomsquality of lifeulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID39444240
PMCPMC11671728

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.