Religiosity and spirituality in patients with Crohn's disease and its relationship with disease activity.

• Grant number: 24/15264-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Walter Sobrado Junior
• Grantee: Bárbara Rico Vieira
• Host Institution: Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Religion, expressed through intense individual religious experiences and the practical application of religious principles, can be defined as the search for meaning, purpose, and connection to something greater than oneself. Religious practice can be individual or collective and can involve various dimensions, manifesting in diverse ways through beliefs, practices, rituals, and spiritual experiences. Crohn disease (CD) is an immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) resulting from an interaction between environmental factors and a dysregulated mucosal immune response, associated with alterations in the gut microbiota in genetically susceptible individuals. It presents with alternating phases of activity and remission and can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, but commonly affects the small intestine and colon. Common symptoms include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss, and fatigue. Diagnosis is made through clinical evaluation, endoscopic examinations, histological, radiological, and biochemical analyses. Receiving a chronic disease diagnosis can be both mentally and physically destabilizing, which is why many people with these conditions seek comfort and hope in their religious beliefs. In this context, religion can be a valuable tool to help patients cope with the challenges of their disease, providing comfort, hope, and emotional support, and potentially serving as an additional or alternative treatment strategy. Although the number of studies on this topic is still limited, existing research indicates an association between religiosity and better health outcomes. Individuals who report high religiosity or frequent spiritual practices tend to have lower levels of inflammation compared to those who are less religious. The objective of this study is to identify the role of religiosity in the lives of CD patients treated at HCFMUSP and to assess whether there is an association with disease activity.