OBJECTIVES: The goal is to understand impact of sociodemographic factors (gender, educational, residence) on patients' quality of life and to get an idea how certain factors (diagnosis, treatment type) affect the extent of their burden on disease and to assess patients' satisfaction with health care system.

METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed in December 2020-January 2021. Non-random expert sampling looked at patients over 18 years diagnosed with IBD (n=321). Exclusion criteria if patient has not received clear diagnosis of his disease or if has history of other autoimmune diseases. Data was collected using self-edited demographic questionnaires and standard questionnaires (Sickness Burden Index, S-IBDQ, Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire). Descriptive statistical analysis and two-sample T-test were used with Microsoft Excel 2010 (p <0.05).

RESULTS: There is no significant difference between quality of life (p=0.835) and burden of illness (p=0.481) of rural and urban populations, nor does educational attainment affect quality of life (p=0.971). Quality of life (p=0.129) and burden of disease (p=0.883) of patient diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (n=144) are not significantly worse than those of crohn's patients (n=177). Those receiving biologic therapy have significantly higher disease burden (p = 0.005) than those receiving conventional treatment, but their quality of life is not better (p = 0.525). Quality of life assessment (p<0.001), burden of illness (p<0.001) and satisfaction (p=0.001) of patients in long-term remission are significantly better than those with relapse. The mean score for the 75-point satisfaction study was 56.82 (SD: 15.19).

CONCLUSIONS: All important areas of fillers’lives are limited, but this is much less intensely felt in group of patients where permanent remission is achieved. Literature research shows that psychological leadership is important during treatment as finding an effective combination of medicines. To improve patients’ quality of life, it can be done with complex treatment plan with help of multidisciplinary group.