Nociplastic Pain is Associated With Increased Healthcare Utilization and Lower Quality of Life in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Sheehan, Jessica L; Clauw, Daniel J; Singh, Prashant; Lee, Allen; Bishu, Shrinivas; Johnson, Laura A; Higgins, Peter D R · Am J Gastroenterol · 2026

retrospective_cohort · Level III

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Abstract

Nociplastic pain (NP) may cause persistent abdominal pain despite well-controlled inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Five hundred patients with IBD were retrospectively classified as acute IBD-related pain, chronic IBD-related pain, or NP. Multivariable regression identified factors associated with NP and differences in healthcare use, symptoms, and quality of life (QoL). NP occurred in 15% of patients with IBD and was associated with female sex, anxiety, depression, and higher social vulnerability. NP patients had more healthcare use and poorer QoL. NP is common in IBD and linked to psychosocial comorbidity, higher healthcare use, and reduced QoL.