Clinical Report: Exploring Digital Health Solutions for Fatigue in IBD

Overview

This scoping review synthesizes current evidence on digital health technologies (DHTs) for monitoring and managing fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It identifies key types of DHTs and digital biomarkers.

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly impacts patient quality of life, with fatigue being a prevalent symptom affecting nearly 80% of patients with active inflammation. Fatigue often persists even in patients who are clinically in remission, indicating a need for effective management strategies. Current assessment methods are inadequate, necessitating innovative solutions such as digital health technologies.

Data Highlights

No numerical data was provided in the source material.

Key Findings

• Fatigue affects nearly 80% of patients with active IBD and persists in about 40% of those in remission.
• Standard clinical practice often overlooks fatigue, focusing instead on endoscopic outcomes.
• Digital health technologies (DHTs) can facilitate continuous symptom tracking.
• Existing DHTs primarily address physical symptoms, neglecting fatigue.
• Emerging evidence supports the use of wearable-derived data to track fatigue.
• A scoping review methodology was employed to map the use of DHTs in managing IBD-related fatigue.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should consider integrating digital health technologies into routine practice to monitor and manage fatigue in IBD patients. Continuous tracking of fatigue symptoms may enhance patient care and facilitate timely interventions.

Conclusion

The review highlights the potential of digital health technologies in addressing fatigue in IBD.

Related Resources & Content

1. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, 2025 -- The Substantial Role of Sleep, Stress, and Physical Activity in Persistent High Levels of Fatigue in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Longitudinal Trajectory Study
2. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, 2025 -- Deconditioning in quiescent Crohn’s disease patients with heightened fatigue perception
3. npj Digital Medicine, 2025 -- Systematic review: digital biomarkers of fatigue in chronic diseases
4. Efficacy of digital health technologies in the management of inflammatory bowel disease: an umbrella review - ScienceDirect
5. Digital health technologies for monitoring and managing IBD-related fatigue: A scoping review
6. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis — Modifiable Psychological Factors are Associated With Clusters of Pain, Fatigue, Fecal Incontinence, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Type Symptoms in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Latent Profile Analysis
7. 2024 ECCO Guideline on Extraintestinal Manifestations
8. 2025 multi-society ECCO–ESGAR–ESP–IBUS Guideline on Diagnostics and Monitoring
9. Efficacy of digital health technologies in the management of inflammatory bowel disease: an umbrella review - ScienceDirect
10. Digital health technologies for monitoring and managing IBD-related fatigue: A scoping review
11. Substantial Role of Sleep, Stress, and Physical Activity in Persistent High Levels of Fatigue in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Longitudinal Trajectory Study | Journal of Crohn's and Colitis | Oxford Academic
12. Physiological Data Collected from Wearable Devices Identify and Predict Inflammatory Bowel Disease Flares - PMC
13. A systematic review of digital and imaging technologies for measuring fatigue in immune mediated inflammatory diseases | npj Digital Medicine