Tag Archives: stress

Diet and Stress in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis

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When it comes to eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), I sometimes worry that some treatments are worse than the disease, depending on the severity of the EoE. A recent study (C Case et al. JPGN 2017; 65: 281-84) indicates that dietary therapy is often stressful for families.

This study examined children ages 2-18 during an annual American Partnership for Eosinophilic Diseases (APFED.org) patient education conference. What I found most interesting was Table 3. “Stress associated with eosinophilc esophagitis.”

Some of the data:

  • In response to ‘how stressful do you find the following since your child’s diagnosis of EoE?’ Family structure at mealtimes: Not stressful 13.5%, somewhat stressful 21.6%, moderate stressful 16.2%, significant stressful 32.4%, and severe stressful 16.2%
  • In response to ‘how stressful do you find the following since your child’s diagnosis of EoE? Buying and cooking separate foods/meals for your child: Not stressful 2.6%, somewhat stressful 21.1%, moderate stressful 21.1%, significant stressful 31.6%, and severe stressful 23.7%
  • In response to ‘how stressful do you find the following since your child’s diagnosis of EoE? Financial strain due to cost of food: Not stressful 10.5%, somewhat stressful 21.1%, moderate stressful 18.4%, significant stressful 23.7%, and severe stressful 36.3%
  • What is your current stress level in response to your child’s EoE? Not stressful 2.6%, somewhat stressful 15.8%, moderate stressful 36.8%, significant stressful 42.1%, and severe stressful 2.6%
  • 62% of respondents indicated that child’s EoE has affected marital relationship.

In addition, the study documented that “half of youth were affected by worry, anger, and sadness related to specialized diets.”  As this study relied on participants at an APFED meeting, this could skew the EoE population to be more severely affected.

My take: This study shows the emotional burden that dietary treatment of EoE places on families.

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Stress and IBD Flareups

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Over the years, I’ve had several experiences in which some patients had flareups of their inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in relation to specific stresses (eg. going to away camp).  This was not just stomach pain but instead bloody diarrhea.  While this is very infrequent, I’ve come to believe that there may be some individuals who develop IBD flareups in response to stress. A recent study (Targownik LE, et al. AJG 2015; 110, 1001-1012 | doi:10.1038/ajg.2015.147) suggests that most of the time when individuals report a flareup in response to stress, that there is not objective evidence of increased inflammation.

The Relationship Among Perceived Stress, Symptoms, and Inflammation in Persons With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

From Abstract:

METHODS:

Participants were recruited from a population-based registry of individuals with known IBD. Symptomatic disease activity was assessed using validated clinical indices: the Manitoba IBD Index (MIBDI) and Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) for Crohn’s disease (CD), and Powell Tuck Index (PTI) for ulcerative colitis (UC). Perceived stress was measured using Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS). Intestinal inflammation was determined through measurement of fecal calprotectin (FCAL), with a level exceeding 250 μg/g indicating significant inflammation. Logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between intestinal inflammation, perceived stress, and disease activity.

RESULTS:

Of the 478 participants with completed surveys and stool samples, perceived stress was associated with symptomatic activity (MIBDI) for both CD and UC (1.07 per 1-point increase on the CPSS, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.10 and 1.03–1.11, respectively). There was no significant association between perceived stress and intestinal inflammation for either CD or UC. Active symptoms (MIBDI ≤3) were associated with intestinal inflammation in UC (odds ratio (OR) 3.94, 95% CI 1.65–9.43), but not in CD (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.51–1.88).

CONCLUSIONS:

Symptomatic disease activity was unrelated to intestinal inflammation in CD and only weakly associated in UC. Although there was a strong relationship between perceived stress and gastrointestinal symptoms, perceived stress was unrelated to concurrent intestinal inflammation. Longitudinal investigation is required to determine the directionality of the relationship between perceived stress, inflammation, and symptoms in IBD.

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What is the Connection between Psychological Stress and Ulcers?

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Briefly noted: “Psychological Stress Increases Risk for Peptic Ulcer, Regardless of Helicobacter pylori Infection, or Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs” Clin Gastroeenterol Hepatol 2015; 498-506. From an initial sample of 3379 Danish adults with medical data/blood  in 1982-83, 76 subjects developed ulcers in this prospective study. Life stress at baseline increased the risk of subsequent ulcer and was not fully explained by confounding variables, by socioeconomic status or by association with NSAIDs or smoking. Ulcer incidence wa 3.5% in the highest tertile of stress compared with 1.6% in the lowest tertile.

Bottomline: Since the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, the role, if any, of psychological stress in contributing to ulcers has been questioned. This study indicates that stress may play a role in ulcer development or at the very least is a marker of individuals at increased risk.