Factors Associated With Improvement in Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease in a Japanese Community Rehabilitation Ward: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a progressive, debilitating, and chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) []. The rates of IBD have increased globally over the last few decades [], with an estimated 4.9 million individuals with IBD worldwide in 2019 []. Furthermore, rising incidence has been reported in many countries, such as in Latin America and Asia [, ]. A recent systematic review reported an increased IBD prevalence rate of 303.3 per 100 000 persons in the Oceania region among adults [], and 36.0 per 100 000 persons among children []. In the Canterbury region of New Zealand (NZ), one in 150 persons have IBD, making it one of the regions in the world with the highest IBD prevalence []. IBD can cause significant morbidity that may lead to a substantial burden on healthcare systems [, , , ]. Moreover, increased disease activity is associated with impaired health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) []. In addition, inadequate or incomplete management of active disease may lead to chronic and irreversible bowel damage, such as strictures in CD, requiring surgical intervention []. In children, IBD can also impair growth, development, and quality of life []. While the etiology of IBD is multifactorial, dietary aspects appear to play a key role []. Diet not only contributes to the development of IBD but is also crucial for disease management after diagnosis []. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown strong correlations between dietary patterns and IBD risk, disease activity, and HRQoL [, , ]. The Western dietary pattern, characterized by intake of high‐fat and high‐sugar foods, has been shown to almost double the risk of developing IBD, thereby likely contributing to the increasing rates in recent years []. Conversely, plant‐based food consumption patterns may contribute to the induction or maintenance of remission []. Additionally, dietary modification can prevent or improve symptoms in more than two‐thirds of patients with IBD [, , ].