Urgencia fecal: un síntoma clave en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal

Francisca Carvajal; Paulina Núñez; Daniela Simian; Karin Herrera; Camila Estay; Edith Pérez de Arce; Lilian Flores; Romina Fernández; Camila Maulén; Pamela San Martin; Rodrigo Quera

doi:10.47892/rgp.2026.461.2174

Authors

Francisca Carvajal Universidad de los Andes, Programa de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Clínica Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4947-2024
Paulina Núñez Universidad de los Andes, Programa de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Clínica Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile; Programa de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3727-1851
Daniela Simian Facultad Medicina Occidente Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5309-1503
Karin Herrera Universidad de los Andes, Programa de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Clínica Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile; Programa de Nutrición y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1841-5266
Camila Estay Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1254-3086
Edith Pérez de Arce Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8990-7594
Lilian Flores Universidad de los Andes, Programa de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Clínica Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9296-8224
Romina Fernández Programa de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1354-7684
Camila Maulén Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7165-4821
Pamela San Martin IMPACT, Centro de Medicina Intervencional de Precisión y Terapia Celular Avanzada, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile; Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1974-3050
Rodrigo Quera Universidad de los Andes, Programa de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Clínica Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5854-0526

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47892/rgp.2026.461.2174

Keywords:

Fecal Incontinence, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Quality of Life

Abstract

Fecal urgency (FU) is a common symptom in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), associated with a significant deterioration in quality of life (QoL) and clinical complications. However, it is often omitted as a parameter in classic disease activity indices. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of FU and its relationship with inflammatory activity, fecal calprotectin, and QoL in patients with IBD. Materials and methods: Analytical, crosssectional study in 268 patients treated between March and July 2023 in three centers in Santiago. Sociodemographic, clinical, and biomarker information was collected, evaluating QoL using the IBDQ-32 questionnaire and Patient-reported outcome using the IBD-Control 8 scale. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were applied for statistical analysis (p<0.05). Results: The prevalence of FU was 20%, being moderate-severe in one third of the cases. In patients with ulcerative colitis, 59% of those with UF were in symptomatic remission versus 98% without UF (p<0.001). In Crohn's disease, 74% with UF were in remission versus 100% without UF (p<0.001). Furthermore, patients with UF presented higher levels of FC and a significant deterioration in QoL (p<0.001). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need to include UF as a relevant parameter in the evaluation and management of IBD, given its impact on inflammatory activity and deterioration in QoL. Incorporating it could improve the comprehensive care of patients and optimize therapeutic strategies.

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