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INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that can significantly affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study is to determine the HRQoL of patients with IBD seen at the Gastroenterology clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted, which included seventy patients with IBD (CD 25, UC 44 and one patient with Indeterminate colitis). Data analyses were restricted to 69 patients who had CD or UC. All the patients completed the validated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and a questionnaire with demographic data. Disease activity was measured using Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) for CD and Truelove and Witts severity index for UC. Data analysis was conducted using Stata 14 statistical software. RESULTS: Mean age was 44.3 ± 16.2 years, 56.5% females, mean disease duration 12.0 ± 11.0 years and mean age at diagnosis of IBD was 31.5 ± 13.4 years. Patients with CD had more frequent hospital admissions (3.9 ± 3.7 vs 0.9 ± 1.8; P value 0.001) and surgeries (0.75 ± 0.8 vs 0.1 ± 0.4; P value 0.001) compared to those with UC. The mean total IBDQ score was 179.6 ± 34.4 (CD was 175.0 ± 37.1 and 182.1 ± 33.0 for patients with UC). Patients with higher IBDQ scores were more likely to be male gender (OR 1.93, 95% CI 0.69–5.39, P value 0.207), married (OR 2.25, 95% CI 0.60-7.31, P value 0.177), educated to secondary school level (OR 2.05, 95% CI 0.46-9.06, P value 0.343), employed in the private sector (OR 3.00, 95% CI 0.83-10.90, P value 0.095) and on no medications (OR 3.24, 95% CI 0.27–0.80, P value 0.006). Higher IBDQ score was associated with fewer hospital admissions (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.73-1.10, P value 0.287). The best score was seen in the systemic domain. The lowest score was seen in emotional domain for both diseases. Overall male patients had a better score for all domains. CONCLUSION: The HRQoL for patients with IBD at the UHWI was comparable to those in other studies. Patients with UC and male gender appeared to have better quality of life, but comparisons were limited by small sample size.

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