Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40019138›Full record

ArticlePediatric pulmonology2025

The Dutch Gastrointestinal Symptom Tracker for People With Cystic Fibrosis: Associations With Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related Quality of Life.

Marieke Verkleij, Berber Vlieg-Boerstra, Geesje H Hofsteenge, Eric Haarman, Jos Twisk, Alexandra L Quittner, Tim de Meij

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric pulmonology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Marieke VerkleijEmma Children's Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2787-5440
Berber Vlieg-BoerstraDepartment of Paediatrics, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Geesje H HofsteengeDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Eric HaarmanDepartment of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jos TwiskDepartment of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location VUMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Alexandra L QuittnerJoe DiMaggio Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary and Sleep Center, Hollywood, Florida, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4139-6983
Tim de MeijDepartment of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Funding

This work was supported by the Corno Grant of the Dutch Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPeople with CF (pwCF) frequently have gastrointestinal symptoms (GI), including abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements. These are often embarrassing, difficult to report, and frequently missed. Thus, a GI Symptom Tracker was created and validated in the USA and translated and validated in Dutch. This questionnaire consists of four subscales: Eating Challenges, Stools, Adherence Challenges, and Abdominal Symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between GI symptoms, anxiety/depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Dutch pwCF.

methodsIn this prospective, cross-sectional single-center pilot study, pwCF completed the Dutch GI Symptom Tracker, GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression), and CFQ-R (HRQoL) from September 2021 to June 2022. Regression analyses were used to analyze the univariable associations between GI symptoms, anxiety/depression, and HRQoL.

resultsA total of 51 pwCF were enrolled consecutively (n = 41 adults, 66% female, mean age (y) [range] = 32.7 [19-71] and n = 10 adolescents, 70% female, mean age (y) [range] = 14.2 [12-17]). Elevated levels of anxiety (scores ≥ 10 on GAD-7) were found in 17% of adults and 0% of adolescents. Elevated depression scores (≥ 10 on PHQ-9) were found in 9% of adults and 20% of adolescents. GI scales "Abdominal Symptoms" and "Stools" were significantly, positively associated with elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. Most GI scales were associated with lower HRQoL.

conclusionThis is the first study investigating the link between GI symptoms assessed by the Dutch GI Symptom Tracker and anxiety/depression and HRQoL in Dutch pwCF. More GI symptoms were associated with higher anxiety and depression scores and worse HRQoL. Additional research is needed to better understand how mental and physical health are linked in GI symptoms in CF.

Indexed as

AnxietyCystic FibrosisDepressionGastrointestinal DiseasesQuality of LifeAbdominal PainAdolescentAdultAgedChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsanxietycystic fibrosisdepressiongastrointestinal symptomsquality of life

Identifiers

PMID40019138
PMCPMC11869532

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