Inflammatory bowel disease and COVID-19 outcomes: a meta-analysis

Incidence of Severe COVID-19 Outcomes and Immunization Rates in Apulian Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is not fully understood but is believed to involve a dysregulated immune response to intestinal microbiota in genetically susceptible individuals. Individuals with IBD are at increased risk of infections due to immunosuppressive treatments, comorbidities, and advanced age. Current evidence indicates that IBD patients are not at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population, though the risk of severe outcomes remains debated. A retrospective observational study was conducted using Apulian regional health data from 2020 to 2022. This study included 1029 IBD patients and 3075 controls, matched by age and sex. COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization, and case fatality rates were analyzed alongside vaccination coverage. No significant differences in COVID-19 incidence (IRR = 0.97), hospitalization (p = 0.218), or lethality (p = 0.271) were evidenced between IBD patients and the general population. Vaccination rates were high in both groups, with slightly higher uptake in IBD patients. Multivariate analysis identified age and male sex as risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes, while vaccination significantly reduced hospitalization and lethality risks. IBD patients in Apulia do not have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe outcomes compared to the general population. Vaccination is crucial in protecting IBD patients, and ongoing efforts to promote vaccination within this population are essential. Future research should focus on the impact of specific IBD treatments on COVID-19 outcomes and the long-term effectiveness of vaccines.

Predictors of Hospital-related Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Early Pandemic Phase: A Nationwide Inpatient Database Survey

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 infection. However, most studies are single-center, and nationwide data in the United States are lacking. This study aimed to investigate hospital-related outcomes and predictors of these outcomes in patients with IBD and COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample and National Readmission database were queried for all the patient hospitalizations with IBD with concurrent COVID-19 in the study group and non-COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the control group. For patients under 18 years, elective and trauma-related hospitalizations were excluded. Primary outcomes included mortality, septic shock, mechanical ventilation, and intensive care utilization. Secondary outcomes included length of stay and total hospitalization costs.

RESULTS

From this query, 8865 adult patients with IBD and COVID-19 were identified. These patients were relatively older (62.8 vs 57.7 years, P < .01), and the majority were females (52.1% with COVID-19 vs 55.2% without COVID-19). Patients with IBD and COVID-19 had higher mortality (12.24% vs 2.55%; P < .01), increased incidence of septic shock (7.9% vs 4.4%; P < .01), mechanical ventilation (11.5% vs 3.7%; P < .01), and intensive care utilization (12% vs 4.6%; P < .01). These patients also had higher mean length of stay (8.28 days vs 5.47 days; P < .01) and total hospitalization costs ($21 390 vs $16 468; P < .01) than those without COVID-19 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IBD and COVID-19 have worse outcomes, with a higher incidence of severe COVID-19 disease, leading to higher mortality rates, longer lengths of stay, and increased total hospitalization costs. Encouraging preventive health measures and treating promptly with advanced COVID-19 therapies may improve outcomes and decrease the healthcare burden.

The association between ulcerative colitis and COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis systematic review

PURPOSE

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges arose regarding the impact of this disease on people with ulcerative colitis. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence, severity, and death consequences of COVID-19 in patients with ulcerative colitis using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

This study was conducted using a systematic review and meta-analysis method in the field of prevalence, severity, and clinical consequences of COVID-19 in people with ulcerative colitis worldwide. The search was conducted in international scientific databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, from the beginning of 2020 to October 2023. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed using the Strobe and Newcastle Ottawa checklists. The data were analyzed using a fixed-effects model in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed using STATA version 17.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies with a sample size of 224,520 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that, in COVID-19 patients with ulcerative colitis, the prevalence of hospitalization, death, COVID-19 severity, and mortality rate in severe patients was 54% (95% CI, 27-80%), 10% (95% CI, 4-16%), 20% (95% CI, 8-34%), 63% (95% CI, 46-80%), respectively. In comparison with the general population, the odds ratio (OR) of hospitalization in patients due to COVID-19 was OR = 1.28 (95% CI, 1.19-1.38, P < 0.001), and the chance of severe COVID-19 was OR = 1.30 (95% CI, 1.22-1.53, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The probability of contracting the severe type of COVID-19 and hospitalization in patients with ulcerative colitis was higher than in the general population.

COVID-19 Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Hospitalized Patients: A Comprehensive Analysis Using the National Inpatient Sample

Background

There is no uniformity in the available literature concerning the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) viral illness on people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

We conducted an analysis using the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to compare the outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalized patients with and without IBD.

Results

Of 1,050,040 patients admitted with COVID-19, 5,750 (0.5%) also had IBD. The group with COVID-19 and IBD had higher percentages of females and White individuals and a greater prevalence of chronic lung disease, peripheral vascular disease, and liver disease. However, after accounting for confounding variables, there was no significant difference in mortality rates, length of hospital stays, or hospitalization costs between the two groups.

Conclusion

According to our findings, the presence of IBD does not appear to elevate the risk of COVID-19 complications.

Coronavirus disease 2019 and gastrointestinal disorders in children

During the past 3 years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a great impact on people all over the world. However, it has become evident that disease manifestations and severity differ across age groups. Most children have a milder disease course than adults but possibly more pronounced gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Given the child's developing immune system, the impact of COVID-19 on disease development may differ compared to adults. This study reviews the potential bi-directional relationship between COVID-19 and GI diseases in children, focusing on common pediatric conditions such as functional GI disorders (FGID), celiac disease (CeD), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Children with GI diseases, in general, and CeD and IBD, in particular, do not seem to have an increased risk of severe COVID-19, including risks of hospitalization, critical care need, and death. While infections are considered candidate environmental factors in both CeD and IBD pathogenesis, and specific infectious agents are known triggers for FGID, there is still not sufficient evidence to implicate COVID-19 in the development of either of these diseases. However, given the scarcity of data and the possible latency period between environmental triggers and disease development, future investigations in this field are warranted.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2: Transmission, Pathogenesis, Immunomodulation, Microflora Dysbiosis, and Clinical Implications

The clinical manifestation of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in the respiratory system of humans is widely recognized. There is increasing evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 possesses the capability to invade the gastrointestinal (GI) system, leading to the manifestation of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and GI lesions. These symptoms subsequently contribute to the development of gastroenteritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanisms linking these GI symptoms to SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unelucidated. During infection, SARS-CoV-2 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and other host proteases in the GI tract during the infection, possibly causing GI symptoms by damaging the intestinal barrier and stimulating inflammatory factor production, respectively. The symptoms of COVID-19-induced GI infection and IBD include intestinal inflammation, mucosal hyperpermeability, bacterial overgrowth, dysbiosis, and changes in blood and fecal metabolomics. Deciphering the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and understanding its exacerbation may provide insights into disease prognosis and pave the way for the discovery of potential novel targets for disease prevention or treatment. Besides the usual transmission routes, SARS-CoV-2 can also be transmitted via the feces of an infected person. Hence, it is crucial to implement preventive and control measures in order to mitigate the fecal-to-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Within this context, the identification and diagnosis of GI tract symptoms during these infections assume significance as they facilitate early detection of the disease and the development of targeted therapeutics. The present review discusses the receptors, pathogenesis, and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, with a particular focus on the induction of gut immune responses, the influence of gut microbes, and potential therapeutic targets against COVID-19-induced GI infection and IBD.