Health-Related Quality of Life Impairment Precedes Manifestation of Clinical Relapse in Crohn’s Disease

At ECCO 2026, Mathilde Nissen, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Odense University Hospital, presented the double-blind, randomized controlled STOP IT trial, which investigates whether a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can be detected prior to clinical relapse following discontinuation of biologic therapy.

The rationale for the study is that Crohn’s disease substantially impairs HRQoL, even during remission. The trial further confirms that clinical relapse in patients with Crohn’s disease who discontinue infliximab while in deep remission is associated with a marked deterioration in quality of life and work productivity.