Swedish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Register (SWIBREG) - a nationwide quality register

Factors affecting response rates in patient-reported outcome measures in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). By using questionnaire tools called patient-reported outcome measures (PROM), patients' well-being and health-status can be measured. The aim of this study was to identify subgroups at risk of being missed in questionnaire monitoring and assess QoL and variability of responses over time.

METHODS

CD or UC, age ≥18 years, receiving biological treatment subcutaneously or intravenously, 01 August 2018 to 31 January 2020, at Karolinska University Hospital, were included. Patients completed standardised and validated questionnaires for QoL-measurements; Short Health Scale (SHS) and EuroQol 5-dimension-index (EQ5D).

RESULTS

412 patients, 287 (70%) Crohn's disease, 125 (30%) ulcerative colitis, 267 (65%) males, median age: 33 (range 18-85). Patients receiving subcutaneous treatment completed PROM questionnaires significantly less frequently compared with intravenous treatment (multiplicative factor 6.5, 5.7-7.5 95% CI). Reduced QoL was seen for intravenous treatment (multiplicative factor 2.0, 0.5-3.5 95% CI) and active disease (multiplicative factor -4.0, -6.1 to -1.9 95% CI). Greater variability in responses was seen in active disease, anaemia, faecal calprotectin ≥ 250 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving subcutaneous treatment, equivalent to home-based treatment, completed significantly fewer PROM questionnaires and are therefore less monitored. It is therefore important to offer different modes of questionnaire administration when monitoring a heterogeneous patient population especially as we see a shift towards oral forms of therapy.

Spondyloarthritis features in IBD patients: prevalence, referral trends and clinical implications. A questionnaire-based study

OBJECTIVES

This study examines the prevalence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) features in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their rates of referral to rheumatologists.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A questionnaire was administered to 2087 IBD patients (≥18 years) in Sweden, assessing demographics, medications and SpA features based on the ASAS and ESSG classification criteria. Patient that met our self-reported adapted criteria are referred to as suspected SpA.

RESULTS

Among the 1032 respondents, 59.1% met our questionnaire-based adapted SpA criteria. However, depending on different criteria (based on adapted ASAS, ESSG, peripheral or axial symptoms) only 24.3-44.0% of these patients had been referred to a rheumatologist. Patients with suspected SpA had higher usage of immunomodulators (42.8-48.8% vs. 37.0%), biologics (27.1-32.4% vs. 14.9%) and steroids (58.1-64.8% vs. 46.2%) compared to those without suspected SpA. Additionally, suspected SpA patients reported a higher incidence of active colitis (30.4-40.4% vs. 11.8%). Logistic regression analysis identified significant associations between suspected axial SpA and factors such as age, smoking, psoriasis, anterior uveitis and a high P-SCCAI score (≥5). Female gender and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 were linked to suspected peripheral SpA.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights a significant prevalence of self-reported SpA in IBD patients, with many remaining undiagnosed and un-referred to rheumatologists. These findings emphasize the need for greater awareness and improved collaboration between gastroenterologists and rheumatologists for better SpA management in IBD patients.

Substantial Reduction of Systemic Corticosteroid Use After Primary Ileocaecal Resection in Swedish Patients With Crohn's Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The corticosteroid-sparing effects of ileocaecal resection have not been thoroughly investigated in a population-based cohort.

AIM

To investigate systemic corticosteroid use before and after primary ileocaecal resection in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Through nationwide registries, we identified 1565 patients with Crohn's disease undergoing primary ileocaecal resection in Sweden 2006-2019. We stratified patients according to mean annual systemic corticosteroid (prednisolone equivalents) use in the last 5 years before surgery and compared Crohn's disease treatment after surgery.

RESULTS

Some 19% (290/1565) of the patients had a mean annual corticosteroid use of ≥ 1000 mg up to 5 years pre-operatively, of whom 33% (97/290) had ≥ 2000 mg. Mean annual pre-operative CS use did not decrease during the study period (p = 0.35). Compared with patients with < 1000 mg/year pre-operative steroid use, patients with ≥ 1000 mg/year had more frequent previous bowel surgery (10% vs. 16%), exposure to biologics (29% vs. 38%), and immunomodulators (56% vs. 83%). Patients with a pre-operative mean annual corticosteroid use of ≥ 1000 mg had a mean annual reduction in corticosteroid use of 1354 mg after ileocaecal resection (1847 mg pre-operative versus 493 mg post-operative). During follow-up (median 6.8 years), exposure to biologics was similar among patients with different levels of pre-operative corticosteroid use.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a significant corticosteroid-sparing effect of ileocaecal resection in Crohn's disease patients with high pre-operative use, indicating a beneficial outcome of earlier surgical intervention. Despite increasing use of biologics, pre-operative corticosteroid use was consistent over the study period.

Statin Use is Associated with a Less Severe Disease Course In Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study 2006-2020

BACKGROUND

Statins reduce the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however their effect on IBD disease progression is largely unknown.

METHODS

We linked Swedish healthcare registers and performed a nationwide cohort study (2006-2020) of 19 788 adults (≥18 years) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 12 582 with Crohn's disease (CD). Of these, 1733 with UC and 962 with CD were identified as incident statin users after UC or CD diagnosis. After 1:1 propensity score matching, we compared statin users with non-users to estimate the risk of IBD-related surgery, hospitalizations, and disease flares expressed as incidence rates (IRs) and multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For outcomes with statistically significant estimates, we calculated the numbers needed to treat (NNT).

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 3.4 years we observed a reduced risk of IBD-related surgery in statin users (UC, IR: 3.4 [95%CI: 2.1-4.8] per 1000 person-years; CD, IR: 9.2 [6.2-12.2]) compared with non-users in UC (IR: 6.3 [4.2-8.5]; aHR: 0.55 [0.31-0.97]) and CD (IR: 15.4 [11.0-19.7]; aHR: 0.54 [0.33-0.88]). The NNT to avoid one IBD-related surgical event per year of statin treatment were 345 (UC) and 161 (CD). For statin users, the risks of hospitalizations (IR: 17.0 [13.9-20.2]; aHR: 0.68 [0.51-0.91]) and disease flares (IR: 207.4 [193.2-221.6]; aHR: 0.86 [0.77-0.97]) were reduced in UC, but not in CD (IR: 20.3 [15.8-24.9]; aHR: 0.78 [0.56-1.09] and IR: 245.5 [223.9-267.1]; aHR: 1.02 [0.88-1.19]). In UC, NNT for hospitalizations and disease flares were 145 and 15.

CONCLUSIONS

Statins were associated with a reduced risk of IBD-related surgery, hospitalizations, and disease flares in patients with UC, and with a reduced risk of IBD-related surgery in patients with CD.

Cumulative incidence and prevalence of perianal diseases in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in the population: a nationwide Swedish study

BACKGROUND

Perianal diseases are more common in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) than in the general population, but data are scarce in other inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subtypes.

METHOD

Using data from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) and SWIBREG, the national quality register for IBD, we estimated the cumulative incidence of perianal fistula/abscess and perianal diseases (fistula, abscess, stenosis, fissure or procedure code for perianal surgery) in relation to diagnosis, and the prevalence in 2023, in individuals with CD, ulcerative colitis (UC) and IBD-unclassified (IBD-U), and in a matched (age, sex, calendar year and region of residence) IBD-free cohort from the general population.

RESULTS

We identified 38,364 patients with incident IBD 2007-2017, and 98,229 patients with prevalent IBD as of 31 December 2022. The cumulative incidence of fistula/abscess was 6.7% at diagnosis, 8.3% at 1 year and 10.4% at 5 years in CD. The corresponding percentages in UC were 0.9%, 1.3% and 2.1%, and in IBD-U 2.4%, 3.1% and 4.5%, respectively. In 2023, 12.8%, 3.1% and 4.1% of patients with prevalent CD, UC and IBD-U had a history of fistula/abscess, compared to 0.8% in the general population. The corresponding numbers for perianal diseases were 19.7%, 7.4%, 8.6% and 2.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

The cumulative incidence and prevalence of perianal diseases in Swedish patients with CD was in parity with reports from other countries, and in patients with UC and IBD-U, it was 3-4 times higher than in the population.

Childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease and chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis: a Swedish nationwide cohort study 2002-2022

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Nationwide, population-based studies of chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) in patients with childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are lacking.

METHODS

We used nationwide registers to identify all children in Sweden diagnosed with IBD during 2002-2022 and the occurrence of CNO in this IBD cohort and general population non-IBD comparators. To estimate the temporal associations between IBD and CNO we used Cox regression. We compared clinical data for IBD patients with CNO (IBD+CNO) and the IBD patients without CNO.

RESULTS

We identified 8244 children with IBD and 82 400 non-IBD comparators. At IBD diagnosis, CNO had been diagnosed in 0.13% (11/8244) of the IBD cohort and 0.03% (26/82 400) of the non-IBD comparators. During follow-up, 13 additional CNO cases occurred in the IBD cohort and 22 in the non-IBD comparators (adjusted hazard ratio = 5.87 [95% CI 2.95-11.66]). The prevalence of CNO among all prevalent children with IBD and prevalent matched non-IBD comparators December 31, 2022 was 0.48% (9/1885) and 0.02% (4/18 567), respectively. Median age at IBD diagnosis was lower in IBD + CNO compared to IBD without CNO (11 vs 14 years [-3 years, 95% CI -5 to -1]). Extraintestinal manifestations (except CNO) were more frequent in IBD + CNO (62% vs 21%, P < .0001). Treatment with biologics was more common in the IBD + CNO group (78% vs 44%, P = .004), prescribed for IBD and/or CNO.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a 6-fold increased risk of CNO in childhood-onset IBD compared to non-IBD comparators. Patients with IBD + CNO are characterized by younger age at IBD onset, more frequent extraintestinal manifestations, and higher usage of biologics.

Comparative Risk of Serious Infection With Vedolizumab vs Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results From Nationwide Swedish Registers

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to assess the risk of serious infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with vedolizumab compared with those treated with anti-tumor necrosis factors (TNF) and the general population.

METHODS

In this Swedish cohort study, treatment episodes were identified from nationwide health registers. We used Cox regression with propensity score-matched cohorts to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident serious infections, defined as infections requiring hospital admission.

RESULTS

During 1,376 treatment episodes in Crohn's disease, the rate of serious infections per 100 person-years (PY) was 5.18 (95% CI = 3.98-6.63) with vedolizumab vs 3.54 (95% CI = 2.50-4.85) with anti-TNF; HR = 1.72 (95% CI = 1.12-2.65), partly explained by more gastrointestinal infections. Compared with the rate of 0.75/100 PY (95% CI = 0.59-0.92) in a matched general population cohort, vedolizumab demonstrated higher risk (HR = 7.00; 95% CI = 5.04-9.72). During 1,294 treatment episodes in ulcerative colitis, the corresponding rates were 3.74/100 PY (95% CI = 2.66-5.11) with vedolizumab vs 3.42/100 PY (95% CI = 2.31-4.89) with anti-TNF; HR = 0.80 (95% CI = 0.47-1.36) during the initial 1.1 years and HR = 2.03 (95% CI = 0.65-6.32) after 1.1 years (truncated due to nonproportional hazards). Pneumonia accounted for 40% of all infections among anti-TNF, whereas no case was observed among vedolizumab episodes. Compared with the rate of 0.69/100 PYs (95% CI = 0.53-0.87) in a matched general population cohort, vedolizumab showed an HR of 5.45 (95% CI = 3.67-8.11).

DISCUSSION

Vedolizumab was associated with increased risks of serious infections compared with anti-TNF in Crohn's disease but not in ulcerative colitis. Nonetheless, the panorama of serious infections seemed to differ between the drugs. Our findings underscore the importance of clinical awareness of infections and the safety profile of the 2 therapies.

Reasons for reduced reproduction after colectomy in women with ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVES

Colectomy and subsequent bowel reconstruction in women with ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with decreased fertility, this survey aims to investigate possible reasons for this.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Women with UC aged 18-44 years at colectomy 2000-2020 were identified and data were retrieved from the Swedish inflammatory bowel disease register (SWIBREG). Additional information was obtained using a study-specific questionnaire.

RESULTS

The survey was completed by 214 (72.8%) out of 294 eligible women. Mean age at disease onset was 22.9 years (standard deviation 0.5). No reconstruction was made in 67 (31.3%) women, whereof 24 (35.8%) had a completion proctectomy. Reconstruction was performed with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) in 66 (30.8%) women and ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) in 81 (37.9%). Included women had on average 1.67 children (95% confidence interval 1.53-1.81) at the end of follow-up. The desire to have children was negatively affected by disease onset (59.4%), colectomy (44.9%) and reconstruction (36.7%). Altogether, 39.4% estimated that they had fewer children and 9.5% restrained completely from having children because of the disease. Difficulties to conceive were reported by 36.5% including 18.9% who expressed that they could not conceive at all. Difficulties to conceive was more common after reconstruction with IPAA (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.54) than IRA (OR 2.57).

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of women with UC and colectomy expressed that the disease affected their desire to have children, more often limiting the number of children than completely refraining. For childless patients, difficulties to conceive was more common than voluntary childlessness.

A nationwide cohort study of inflammatory bowel disease, histological activity and fracture risk

BACKGROUND

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of fracture. It is unclear if this risk varies by recent histological activity.

AIMS

To determine the fracture risk in IBD during periods with and without histological inflammation.

METHODS

We studied a nationwide cohort of 54,591 individuals diagnosed with IBD in 1990-2016 with longitudinal data on ileo-colorectal biopsies. Fractures were identified by inpatient and hospital-based outpatient diagnoses. We derived Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for fracture during 12 months following a histological inflammation (vs. histological remission) record after adjusting for socio-demographics, comorbidities, IBD duration, IBD-related surgery and hospitalization. We adjusted sensitivity analyses for medical IBD treatment including corticosteroids.

RESULTS

Mean age of patients was 44.0 (SD = 18.3) and 45.5 (SD = 17.1) years at biopsy with histological inflammation and remission, respectively. For histological inflammation, there were 1.37 (95% CI 1.29-1.46) fractures per 100 years' follow-up versus 1.31 (95% CI 1.19-1.44) for remission (adjusted [a]HR 1.12; 95% CI 1.00-1.26; p = 0.04). HRs were similar with histological inflammation of Crohn's disease (1.11; 95% CI 0.91-1.36) and ulcerative colitis (1.18; 95% CI 1.02-1.36). Estimates were consistent across age groups. An overall small excess risk of any fracture remained after accounting for corticosteroids. A more prominently raised fracture risk was observed in corticosteroid-naïve IBD patients with histological inflammation versus histological remission (aHR 1.41; 95% CI 1.07-1.85). The aHR of hip fracture following histological inflammation was 1.29 (95% CI 0.87-1.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Histological inflammation in IBD predicted a small increase in short-term fracture risk. Measures to reduce disease activity may reduce fracture risk in IBD.

Autoimmune diseases in primary sclerosing cholangitis and their first-degree relatives

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there is limited overlap between IBD and PSC risk genes, but a stronger association between PSC and other autoimmune conditions. We aimed to assess the coexistence and familial association of autoimmune disorders in PSC, and the influence of autoimmune comorbidity on severe outcomes.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

In a matched cohort study, 1378 individuals with PSC and 13,549 general population comparators and their first-degree relatives were evaluated. National registries provided data on diagnoses and outcomes (liver transplantation, hepatobiliary cancer, and liver-related death). The OR of autoimmune disease was estimated by logistic regression. The Fine and Gray competing risk regression estimated HRs for severe outcomes. The prevalence of non-IBD, non-autoimmune hepatitis, and autoimmune disease was 18% in PSC and 11% in comparators, OR: 1.77 (95% CI: 1.53-2.05). Highest odds were seen for celiac disease [OR: 4.36 (95% CI: 2.44-7.49)], sarcoidosis [OR: 2.74 (95% CI: 1.29-5.33)], diabetes type 1 [OR: 2.91 (95% CI: 2.05-4.05)], and autoimmune skin disease [OR: 2.15 (95% CI: 1.52-2.96)]. First-degree relatives of individuals with PSC had higher odds of developing IBD, autoimmune hepatitis, and any autoimmune disease than relatives of the comparators [OR: 3.25 (95% CI: 2.68-3.91); OR: 5.94 (95% CI: 2.82-12.02); OR: 1.34 (95% CI: 1.19-1.50)]. Autoimmune comorbidity in PSC was not associated with poorer outcomes [HR: 0.96 (95% CI: 0.71-1.28)].

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with PSC and their first-degree relatives had higher odds of autoimmune disease compared to matched comparators. This finding provides validation for prior genetic discoveries at a phenotypic level. Autoimmune comorbidity did not impact severe outcomes.

Real-World Outcomes of Patients Starting Intravenous and Transitioning to Subcutaneous Vedolizumab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Real-world data on starting intravenous (IV) vedolizumab (VDZ) and transitioning to subcutaneous (SC) treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scarce.

AIMS

To assess treatment outcomes of patients with IBD starting IV VDZ and switching to SC VDZ in routine clinical care.

METHODS

Adult patients with IBD switching from IV to SC VDZ treatment between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2021 were identified from the Swedish IBD quality register. The primary outcome was SC VDZ persistence. Secondary outcomes included clinical remission, changes in quality of life (QoL) according to EuroQual 5-Dimensions 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) and the Short-Health Scale (SHS) and inflammatory markers, including faecal Calprotectin (FCP).

RESULTS

Altogether, 406 patients with IBD (Crohn's disease, n = 181; ulcerative colitis, n = 225) were identified. After a median follow-up of 30 months from starting IV VDZ treatment, the persistence rates were 98%(178/181) in Crohn's disease and 94% (211/225) in ulcerative colitis. Most patients (84%) transitioned during maintenance therapy, and the median follow-up from switch to SC VDZ was 10 months. Compared to baseline, statistically significant improvements were observed in all domains of the SHS, EQ-5D index value and visual analogue scale. Median (interquartile range) FCP concentrations (μg/g) decreased from 459 (185-1001) to 65 (26-227) in Crohn's disease (n = 45; p < 0.001) and from 646 (152-1450) to 49 (20-275) in ulcerative colitis (n = 58; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Initiating IV VDZ and switching to SC treatment was associated with high persistence rates and improvements in measures of QoL and FCP. These findings are reassuring for patients who start IV VDZ and switch to SC VDZ.

Impact of inflammatory bowel disease on the risk of acute coronary syndrome: A Swedish Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

There are conflicting data on the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Only a few previous reports include patients diagnosed during the last decade.

AIM

To assess and compare the risk of ACS between patients with IBD and the general population.

METHODS

In this cohort study, we used nationwide registers to identify patients diagnosed with IBD in Sweden 2003-2021. Every patient was matched by birth year, sex, calendar year and area of residence with up to 10 general population comparators. The primary outcome was incident ACS. We used semi-parametric Cox proportional hazard models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

We identified 76,517 patients with IBD (Crohn's disease [CD], N = 22,732; ulcerative colitis [UC], N = 42,194 and IBD-unclassified, N = 11,591) and 757,141 comparators. During a median follow-up of 8 years, 2546 patients with IBD (37.5/10,000 person-years) were diagnosed with ACS compared with 19,598 (28.0/10,000 person-years) among comparators (HR 1.30; 95% confidence interval 1.24-1.35) after adjustments for confounding factors, and approximately one extra case of ACS in 100 IBD patients followed for 10 years. The highest HRs for ACS were in patients with elderly onset IBD (≥60 years) and among patients with CD or UC with extra-intestinal manifestations. No increased HRs were observed in patients diagnosed with IBD before the age of 40.

CONCLUSION

In this contemporary cohort of patients with IBD, exposed to modern IBD care, there was an increased risk for ACS compared with individuals from the general population.

Histologic Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Female Fertility: A Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to reduced female fertility, but it is unclear how fertility rates vary by histologic disease activity.

METHODS

Nationwide IBD cohort of Swedish women aged 15 to 44 years. We examined fertility rates during periods with vs without histologic inflammation (n = 21,046; follow-up, 1990-2016) and during periods with vs without clinical activity (IBD-related hospitalization, surgery, or treatment escalation) (n = 24,995; follow-up, 2006-2020). Accounting for sociodemographics and comorbidities, we used Poisson regression to estimate adjusted fertility rate ratios (aFRRs) for live births conceived during 12-month periods of histologic inflammation (vs histologic remission) and 3-month periods of clinically active IBD (vs quiescent IBD).

RESULTS

During periods with vs without histologic inflammation, there were 6.35 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.98-6.73) and 7.09 (95% CI, 6.48-7.70) live births conceived per 100 person-years of follow-up, respectively, or 1 fewer child per 14 women with 10 years of histologic inflammation (aFRR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.81-1.00). In women with histologic inflammation, fertility was similarly reduced in ulcerative colitis (UC) (aFRR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.78-1.02]) and Crohn's disease (CD) (aFRR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.72-1.04]). Clinical IBD activity was associated with an aFRR of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.72-0.79) or 1 fewer child per 6 women with 10 years of clinical activity. Fertility was reduced in clinically active UC (aFRR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.70-0.81]) and CD (aFRR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.70-0.82]). Finally, among women with clinically quiescent IBD, histologic inflammation (vs histologic remission) was associated with reduced fertility (aFRR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.73-0.98]).

CONCLUSIONS

An association between histologic and clinical activity and reduced female fertility in CD and UC was found. Notably, histologic inflammation was also linked to reduced fertility in women with clinically quiescent IBD.

Histologic Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Risk of Serious Infections: A Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of serious infections, but whether this risk varies by histologic disease activity is unclear.

METHODS

This was a national population-based study of 55,626 individuals diagnosed with IBD in 1990 to 2016 with longitudinal data on ileocolorectal biopsy specimens followed up through 2016. Serious infections were defined as having an inpatient infectious disease diagnosis in the Swedish National Patient Register. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for serious infections in the 12 months after documentation of histologic inflammation (vs histologic remission), adjusting for social and demographic factors, chronic comorbidities, prior IBD-related surgery, and hospitalization. We also adjusted for IBD-related medications in sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

With histologic inflammation vs remission, there was 4.62 (95% CI, 4.46-4.78) and 2.53 (95% CI, 2.36-2.70) serious infections per 100 person-years of follow-up, respectively (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.59; 95% CI, 1.48-1.72). Histologic inflammation (vs remission) was associated with an increased risk of serious infections in ulcerative colitis (aHR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.51-1.87) and Crohn's disease (aHR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.40-1.80). The aHRs of sepsis and opportunistic infections were 1.66 (95% CI, 1.28-2.15) and 1.71 (95% CI, 1.22-2.41), respectively. Overall, results were consistent across age groups, sex, and education level, and remained largely unchanged after adjustment for IBD-related medications (aHR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.34-1.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Histologic inflammation of IBD was an independent risk factor of serious infections, including sepsis, suggesting that achieving histologic remission may reduce infections in IBD. The study was approved by the Stockholm Ethics Review Board (approval numbers 2014/1287-31/4, 2018/972-32, and 2021-06209-01).

Construct validity of EQ-5D-5L among patients with inflammatory bowel disease-a study based on real-world data from the Swedish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry

OBJECTIVES

The Swedish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry (SWIBREG) includes approximately 84% of all patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with immunomodulators, biologics or surgery in Sweden. Data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have been collected using EQ-5D-5L in the registry since 2012. Nevertheless, there are few studies assessing the validity of EQ-5D-5L in this patient population. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the construct validity of EQ-5D-5L amongst patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease).

METHODS

Individual-level data on EQ-5D-5L and other disease-specific measures were extracted from SWIBREG. Known-groups validity was assessed by analysing whether the EQ-5D-5L captured expected differences between patient groups with different activity levels of the disease. Convergent validity was assessed by analysing whether the reported problems in the dimensions of EQ-5D-5L, EQ VAS, and the EQ-5D-5L index value correlated, as hypothesized, with the four dimensions in the Short Health Scale, a symptom index question, and the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score.

RESULTS

In total, 9769 patients with IBD were included in the study. Patients with active IBD reported more health problems in the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system than patients being in remission. The effect sizes for the differences in reported problems between patients with active and inactive disease were at least small (≥0.1) or medium (≥0.3) in all dimensions except self-care. Differences in the mean EQ-5D-5L index and EQ-VAS score between patients with active and inactive disease were statistically significant (p < 0.001) and larger than pre-defined cut-offs for minimally important differences (>0.08 for the index and >11.0 for EQ-VAS). The analysis of convergent validity showed that EQ-5D-5L results correlated as expected with the disease-specific measures in 16 of the 21 analyses. In total, 22 (79%) of the 28 hypotheses were supported.

CONCLUSION

The findings support the construct validity of EQ-5D-5L amongst patients with IBD and contribute to the scarce literature on the validity of the five-level version of EQ-5D in this patient population. These findings have important implications for the choice of HRQoL measure in routine health care registries like SWIBREG as well as for future clinical or health economic studies considering using EQ-5D-5L as a measure of HRQoL.

Intestinal stroma guides monocyte differentiation to macrophages through GM-CSF

Stromal cells support epithelial cell and immune cell homeostasis and play an important role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. Here, we quantify the stromal response to inflammation in pediatric IBD and reveal subset-specific inflammatory responses across colon segments and intestinal layers. Using data from a murine dynamic gut injury model and human ex vivo transcriptomic, protein and spatial analyses, we report that PDGFRA+CD142-/low fibroblasts and monocytes/macrophages co-localize in the intestine. In primary human fibroblast-monocyte co-cultures, intestinal PDGFRA+CD142-/low fibroblasts foster monocyte transition to CCR2+CD206+ macrophages through granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Monocyte-derived CCR2+CD206+ cells from co-cultures have a phenotype similar to intestinal CCR2+CD206+ macrophages from newly diagnosed pediatric IBD patients, with high levels of PD-L1 and low levels of GM-CSF receptor. The study describes subset-specific changes in stromal responses to inflammation and suggests that the intestinal stroma guides intestinal macrophage differentiation.

Crossing barriers: the burden of inflammatory bowel disease across Western Europe

An estimated 2.5-3 million individuals (0.4%) in Europe are affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whilst incidence rates for IBD are stabilising across Europe, the prevalence is rising and subsequently resulting in a significant cost to the healthcare system of an estimated 4.6-5.6 billion euros per year. Hospitalisation and surgical resection rates are generally on a downward trend, which is contrary to the rising cost of novel medication. This signifies a large part of healthcare cost and burden. Despite publicly funded healthcare systems in most European countries, there is still wide variation in how patients receive and/or pay for biologic medication. This review will provide an overview and discuss the different healthcare systems within Western Europe and the barriers that affect overall management of a changing IBD landscape, including differences to hospitalisation and surgical rates, access to medication and clinical trial participation and recruitment. This review will also discuss the importance of standardising IBD management to attain high-quality care for all patients with IBD.

Increasing healthcare costs in inflammatory bowel disease 2007-2020 in Sweden

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease has been linked to increasing healthcare costs, but longitudinal data on other societal costs are scarce.

AIM

To assess costs, including productivity losses, in patients with prevalent Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) in Sweden between 2007 and 2020.

METHODS

We linked data from national registers on all patients with CD or UC and a matched (sex, birthyear, healthcare region and education) reference population. We assessed mean costs/year in Euros, inflation-adjusted to 2020, for hospitalisations, out-patient visits, medications, sick leave and disability pension. We defined excess costs as the mean difference between patients and matched comparators.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2020, absolute mean annual societal costs in working-age (18-64 years) individuals decreased by 17% in CD (-24% in the comparators) and by 20% in UC (-27% in comparators), due to decreasing costs from sick leave and disability, a consequence of stricter sick leave regulations. Excess costs in 2007 were dominated by productivity losses. In 2020, excess costs were mostly healthcare costs. Absolute and excess costs increased in paediatric and elderly patients. Overall, costs for TNF inhibitors/targeted therapies increased by 274% in CD and 638% in UC, and the proportion treated increased from 5% to 26% in CD, and from 1% to 10% in UC.

CONCLUSION

Between 2007 and 2020, excess costs shifted from productivity losses to direct healthcare costs; that is, the patients' compensation for sickness absence decreased, while society increased its spending on medications. Medication costs were driven both by expanding use of TNF inhibitors and by high costs for newer targeted therapies.

Colectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis is not associated to future diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis

BACKGROUND

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a hepatobiliary disease closely related to ulcerative colitis (UC). In PSC patients, colectomy has been linked to improved prognosis, especially following liver transplantation. This suggests an involvement of the gut-liver axis in PSC etiology.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the association between colectomy and the risk of future PSC in an epidemiological setting.

METHOD

Through nationwide registers, we identified all adults diagnosed with UC in Sweden 1990-2018 and retrieved information on PSC diagnosis and colectomy. Within the UC cohort (n = 61,993 patients), we matched 5577 patients with colectomy to 15,078 without colectomy. Matching criteria were sex, age at UC onset (±5 years), year of UC onset (±3 years), and proctitis at the time of colectomy. Incidence rates of PSC per 1000-person year were calculated, and the Cox proportional hazard regression model estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for PSC until 31 December 2019.

RESULTS

During the follow-up, 190 (3.4%) colectomized UC patients and 450 (3.0%) UC comparators developed PSC, yielding incidence rates of 2.6 and 2.4 per 1000 person-years (HR 1.07 [95% CI 0.90-1.28]). The cumulative incidence of colectomy decreased remarkably over calendar periods, but the cumulative incidence of PSC remained unchanged. The risk of developing PSC in colectomized versus comparators changed over time (HR 0.68 [95% CI; 0.48-0.96] in 1990-97 and HR 2.10 [95% CI; 1.37-3.24] in 2011-18).

CONCLUSIONS

In UC patients, colectomy was not associated with a decreased risk of subsequent PSC. The observed differences in the risk of PSC development over calendar periods are likely due to changes in PSC-diagnosis and UC-treatment.

The single-cell transcriptional landscape of innate and adaptive lymphocytes in pediatric-onset colitis

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are considered innate counterparts of adaptive T cells; however, their common and unique transcriptional signatures in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD) are largely unknown. Here, we report a dysregulated colonic ILC composition in pIBD colitis that correlates with inflammatory activity, including accumulation of naive-like CD45RA⁺CD62L^- ILCs. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) reveals modules of genes that are shared or unique across innate and adaptive lymphocytes. Shared modules include genes associated with activation/tissue residency, naivety/quiescence, and antigen presentation. Lastly, nearest-neighbor-based analysis facilitates the identification of "most inflamed" and "least inflamed" lymphocytes in pIBD colon with unique transcriptional signatures. Our study reveals shared and unique transcriptional signatures of colonic ILCs and T cells in pIBD. We also provide insight into the transcriptional regulation of colonic inflammation, deepening our understanding of the potential mechanisms involved in pIBD.

Ustekinumab Versus Anti-tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha Agents as Second-Line Biologics in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

There are little data on positioning biologics in Crohn's disease (CD).

AIMS

We aimed to assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab vs tumour necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF) agents after first-line treatment with anti-TNF in CD.

METHODS

We used Swedish nationwide registers to identify patients with CD, exposed to anti-TNF who initiated second-line biologic treatment with ustekinumab or second-line anti-TNF therapy. Nearest neighbour 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the groups. The primary outcome was 3-year drug survival used as a proxy for effectiveness. Secondary outcomes included drug survival without hospital admission, CD-related surgery, antibiotics, hospitalization due to infection and exposure to corticosteroids.

RESULTS

Some 312 patients remained after PSM. Drug survival at 3 years was 35% (95% CI 26-44%) in ustekinumab compared to 36% (95% CI 28-44%) in anti-TNF-treated patients (p = 0.72). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in 3-year survival without hospital admission (72% vs 70%, p = 0.99), surgery (87% vs 92%, p = 0.17), hospital admission due to infection (92% vs 92%, p = 0.31) or prescription of antibiotics (49% vs 50%, p = 0.56). The proportion of patients continuing second-line biologic therapy did not differ by reason for ending first-line anti-TNF (lack of response vs intolerance) or by type of first-line anti-TNF (adalimumab vs infliximab).

CONCLUSION

Based on data from Swedish routine care, no clinically relevant differences in effectiveness or safety of second-line ustekinumab vs anti-TNF treatment were observed in patients with CD with prior exposure to anti-TNF.

The Risk of Serious Infections Before and After Anti-TNF Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Serious infections have been observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on anti-TNF use-but to what extent these infections are due to anti-TNF or the disease activity per se is hard to disentangle. We aimed to describe how the rates of serious infections change over time both before and after starting anti-TNF in IBD.

METHODS

Inflammatory bowel disease patients naïve to anti-TNF treatment were identified at 5 centers participating in the Swedish IBD Quality Register, and their medical records examined in detail. Serious infections, defined as infections requiring in-patient care, the year before and after the start of anti-TNF treatment were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among 980 patients who started their first anti-TNF therapy between 1999 and 2016, the incidence rate of serious infections was 2.19 (95% CI,1.43-3.36) per 100 person years the year before and 2.11 (95% CI, 1.33-3.34) per 100 person years 1 year after treatment start. This corresponded to an incidence rate ratio 1 year after anti-TNF treatment of 0.97 (95% CI, 0.51-1.84). Compared with before anti-TNF therapy, the incidence of serious infection was significantly decreased more than 1 year after treatment (incidence rate ratio 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33-0.95; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

In routine clinical practice in Sweden, the incidence rate of serious infection among IBD patients did not increase with anti-TNF therapy. Instead, serious infections seemed to decrease more than 1 year after initiation of anti-TNF treatment.

Implementing electronic patient reported outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease: patient participation, score reliability and validity

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recommended for assessing patient-centered outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main aims were to assess the level of participation in an electronic PROM (ePROM) data collection system among patients with IBD, and evaluate reliability and validity of the resulting scores.

METHODS

Patients included in the IBD registry of Maccabi Healthcare Services, a state-mandated healthcare provider for over 2.6 million people in Israel, were invited to complete the IBD-Control measure and a general health item, with follow-up ePROMs at 3 and 6 months including a global rating of change item. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patient characteristics by participation rate, and assess survey completion time. Initial scores were assessed for internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient from paired scores of patients identified as unchanged between the initial and first follow-up. Construct validity was assessed by the ability of IBD-control scores to discriminate between patient sub-groups in expected ways. Empirical validity was assessed using ePROM score correlations with laboratory markers of disease activity. Score coverage was also assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 13,588 patients were invited to participate [Mean age = 49 years (SD = 17); females = 51%]. Participation rate was 31.5%. Participants compared to non-participants were slightly older, were more likely to be female, to have a history of biologic treatment, to have higher socio-economic status, and to be more experienced in the usage of the digital patient portal. Median survey completion time was approximately 1:30 min. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were 0.86 and 0.98, respectively. Scores discriminated between patient sub-groups in clinically expected ways, with expected correlations to laboratory markers of disease activity. A notable ceiling effect was observed (> 15%) for IBD-Control scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Feasibility, reliability, and validity of the ePROM system was supported for measuring the level of perceived disease control in patients diagnosed with IBD in Israel. Additional research is needed to identify ways to increase patient participation, assess clinical implications of the identified measurement ceiling of the IBD-control, and evaluate the added value of the derived scores in support of clinical decision making.

Ustekinumab Is Associated with Real-World Long-Term Effectiveness and Improved Health-Related Quality of Life in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Prospectively and systematically collected long-term real-world clinical data on ustekinumab (anti-interleukin-12/23) are still scarce.

AIMS

To assess the long-term effectiveness of ustekinumab in patients with active Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

This is a prospective multicenter study of adult patients with CD initiating ustekinumab according to recommended doses at 20 Swedish hospitals. The primary outcome was clinical remission (Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) ≤ 4 points) at weeks 52 and 104. Secondary outcomes included clinical response (≥ 3-point-decrease in HBI among patients with initial HBI ≥ 5 points), treatment retention, and biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin, fecal-calprotectin) at weeks 52 and 104 compared to baseline. We also reported Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) measures.

RESULTS

Of 114 included patients, 107 (94%) had previously failed ≥ 1 and 58 (51%) ≥ 2 anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. Forty (35%) had failed anti-integrin agents. Ustekinumab retention rates at weeks 52 and 104 were 70% (n = 80/114) and 61% (n = 69/114), respectively. Clinical response was seen in 36% (n = 25/69) and 29% (n = 20/69) of the patients, and remission was achieved in 32% (n = 31/96) and 29% (n = 28/96) at weeks 52 and 104, respectively. Median HBI and CRP levels decreased significantly at both timepoints as compared to baseline. Significant improvements were also observed in HRQoL. Adverse events were reported in 11% (n = 13/114) of the patients, including five cases of severe adverse events. No malignancies were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide prospective real-world 104-week-follow-up study of adult patients with active CD, ustekinumab was associated with long-term clinical effectiveness and improvement in HRQoL measures when used in routine clinical care.

Increased incidence of late-onset inflammatory bowel disease and microscopic colitis after a Cryptosporidium hominis outbreak

OBJECTIVES

In 2010, 27,000 inhabitants (45% of the population) of Östersund, Sweden, contracted clinical cryptosporidiosis after drinking water contaminated with Cryptosporidium hominis. After the outbreak, local physicians perceived that the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), and IBD-unclassified, and microscopic colitis (MC) increased. This study assessed whether this perception was correct.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This observational study included adult patients (≥18 years old) from the local health care region who were diagnosed with pathology-confirmed IBD or MC during 2006-2019. We collected and validated the diagnosis, date of diagnosis, age at diagnosis, and sex from the Swedish quality register SWIBREG and electronic patient records. Population data were collected from Statistics Sweden. The incidences for 2006-2010 (pre-outbreak) and 2011-2019 (post-outbreak) were evaluated by negative binomial regression analysis and presented as incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Data were analyzed for IBD, for UC and CD separately, and MC.

RESULTS

During the study period, we identified 410 patients with new onset IBD and 155 new cases of MC. Overall, we found a trend toward an increased incidence of IBD post-outbreak (IRR 1.39, confidence interval (CI) 0.99-1.94). In individuals ≥40 years old, the post-outbreak incidence significantly increased for IBD (IRR 1.69, CI 1.13-2.51) and CD (IRR 2.23, CI 1.08-4.62). Post-outbreak incidence of MC increased 6-fold in all age groups (IRR 6.43, CI 2.78-14.87).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of late-onset IBD and MC increased after the Cryptosporidium outbreak. Cryptosporidiosis may be an environmental risk factor for IBD and MC.

Association Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Spondyloarthritis: Findings from a Nationwide Study in Sweden

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] has been associated with spondyloarthritis [SpA], but population-based estimates are scarce. Here we compare the occurrence of SpA before and after a diagnosis of IBD with the general population, overall and by IBD subtype and age.

METHODS

We used a nationwide register-based cohort study of 39 203 patients diagnosed with IBD during 2006-2016, identified from Swedish registers and gastrointestinal biopsy data, and 390 490 matched reference individuals from the general population. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios [ORs] for a prior [prevalent] SpA diagnosis and conditional Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios [HRs] for a subsequent [incident] SpA diagnosis in IBD patients.

RESULTS

IBD patients were more likely to have prevalent SpA at IBD diagnosis [2.5%] compared with reference individuals [0.7%] with an OR of 3.48 [95% CI: 3.23, 3.75]. They also more often received an incident diagnosis of SpA; during 23 341 934 person-years of follow-up in IBD patients, there were 1030 SpA events [5.0/1000 person-years] compared with 1524 SpA events in the reference group [0.72/1000 person-years], corresponding to an HR of 7.15 [95% CI: 6.60, 7.75]. In subgroup analyses, associations were most pronounced among patients with Crohn's disease ([OR = 5.20; 95% CI: 4.59, 5.89], and [HR = 10.55; 95% CI: 9.16, 12.15]) and paediatric onset IBD ([OR = 3.63; 95% CI: 2.35, 5.59] and [HR = 15.03; 95% CI: 11.01, 20.53]).

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients more frequently experience SpA both before and after the diagnosis of IBD compared with the general population, supporting evidence of a shared pathophysiology. The variation in SpA comorbidity, across IBD subtypes and age groups, calls for targeted approaches to facilitate timely diagnosis and intervention.

Histological remission in inflammatory bowel disease and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: A nationwide study

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but it is unclear how risks vary by histological activity.

METHODS

We performed a nationwide study of Swedish women diagnosed with IBD 1990-2016 and a pre-pregnancy (<12 months) colorectal biopsy with vs. without histological inflammation (1223 and 630 births, respectively). We also examined pregnancy outcomes in 2007-2016 of women with vs. without clinically active IBD (i.e., IBD-related hospitalization, surgery, or medication escalation) <12 months before pregnancy (2110 and 4993 births, respectively). Accounting for smoking, socio-demographics, and comorbidities, generalized linear models estimated adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) for preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks) and small-for-gestational age (SGA, <10th percentile weight for age).

FINDINGS

Of infants to women with vs. without histological inflammation, 9.6% (n = 117) and 6.5% (n = 41) were preterm, respectively (aRR = 1.46; 95%CI = 1.03-2.06). Histological inflammation was associated with preterm birth in ulcerative colitis (UC) (aRR = 1.64; 95%CI = 1.07-2.52), especially extensive colitis (aRR = 2.37; 95%CI = 1.12-5.02), but not in Crohn's disease (aRR = 0.99; 95%CI = 0.55-1.78). Of infants to women with vs. without histological inflammation, 116 (9.6%) and 56 (8.9%), respectively, were SGA (aRR = 1.09; 95%CI = 0.81-1.47). Clinically active disease before pregnancy was linked to preterm birth (aRR = 1.42; 95%CI = 1.20-1.69), but not to SGA birth (aRR = 1.13; 95%CI = 0.96-1.32). Finally, of infants to women without clinical activity, histological inflammation was not significantly associated with preterm birth (aRR = 1.20; 95%CI = 0.68-2.13).

INTERPRETATION

Histological and clinical activity in IBD, especially in UC, were risk factors for preterm birth. Further research is needed to determine the importance of pre-pregnancy histological activity in women without clinically-defined disease activity.

FUNDING

The Swedish Society of Medicine.

Prevalence and Implications of Frailty in Older Adults With Incident Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We aimed to compare the risk of frailty in older adults with incident inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and matched non-IBD comparators and assess the association between frailty and future hospitalizations and mortality.

METHODS

In a cohort of patients with incident IBD ≥60 years of age from 2007 to 2016 in Sweden identified using nationwide registers, we defined frailty using Hospital Frailty Risk Score. We compared prevalence of frailty in patients with IBD with age, sex, place of residency- and calendar year-matched population comparators. In the IBD cohort, we used Cox proportional hazards modeling to examine the associations between frailty risk and hospitalizations or mortality.

RESULTS

We identified 10,590 patients with IBD, 52% female with a mean age of 71 years of age, matched to 103,398 population-based comparators. Among patients with IBD, 39% had no risk for frailty, 49% had low risk for frailty, and 12% had higher risk for frailty. Mean Hospital Frailty Risk Score was 1.9 in IBD and 0.9 in matched comparators (P < .01). Older adults with IBD at higher risk for frailty had a 20% greater risk for mortality at 3 years compared with those who were not frail. Compared with nonfrail older patients with IBD, patients at higher risk for frailty had increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 3.22, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.86-3.61), all-cause hospitalization (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 2.24-2.61), and IBD-related hospitalization (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.35-1.66). These associations were not attenuated after adjusting for comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Frailty is more prevalent in older adults with IBD than in matched comparators. Among older patients with IBD, frailty is associated with increased risk for hospitalizations and mortality.

Ustekinumab treatment in ulcerative colitis: Real-world data from the Swedish inflammatory bowel disease quality register

BACKGROUND

Real-world data on clinical outcomes of ustekinumab in ulcerative colitis are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To assess short- and long-term clinical outcomes of ustekinumab in ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

Adult ulcerative colitis patients without previous colectomy starting ustekinumab treatment up until 11 December 2020 were identified through the Swedish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Register (SWIBREG). Prospectively recorded data were extracted from the SWIBREG. The primary outcome was persistence to ustekinumab 16 weeks after treatment initiation. Secondary outcomes included drug persistence beyond week 16, clinical remission (defined as a patient-reported Mayo rectal bleeding subscore = 0 and stool frequency subscore ≤1), biochemical remission (defined as faecal-calprotectin <250 μg/g) and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as measured by the Short Health Scale (SHS). Logistic regression was used to identify potential predictors of ustekinumab persistence at 16 weeks.

RESULTS

Of the 133 patients with ulcerative colitis, only three were naïve to biologics and tofacitinib. The persistence rates of ustekinumab were 115/133 (86%) at 16 weeks and 89/133 (67%) at last follow-up, that is, after a median follow-up of 32 (interquartile range 19-56) weeks. The clinical remission rates were 17% at 16 weeks and 32% at the last follow-up. The corresponding rates for biochemical remission were 14% and 23%. The median faecal-calprotectin concentration decreased from 740 μg/g at baseline to 98 μg/g at the last follow-up (p < 0.01, n = 37). Improvement was seen in each dimension of the SHS between baseline and last follow-up (p < 0.01 for each dimension, n = 46). Male sex was associated with ustekinumab persistence at 16 weeks (adjusted odds ratio = 4.00, 95% confidence interval: 1.35-11.83).

CONCLUSION

In this nationwide real-world cohort of ulcerative colitis patients with prior drug failures, including other biologics and tofacitinib, ustekinumab was associated with high drug persistence rates and improvements in clinical, biochemical and HRQoL measures.

Identification of Childhood-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Swedish Healthcare Registers: A Validation Study

Purpose

The Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) is often used in observational studies of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (<18 years of age) and its subtypes, but the validity of previously used register-based algorithms for capturing childhood-onset IBD has never been examined.

Methods

We identified a random sample of 233 individuals with at least two first ever diagnostic listings of IBD in the NPR between 2002 and 2014. We calculated the test characteristics for different register-based definitions of IBD and its subtypes using the Copenhagen criteria and the revised Porto criteria as gold standard, both based on medical chart review. We made assumptions of the occurrence of undiagnosed IBD in the general child population based on available literature.

Results

Out of 233 individuals with at least two diagnostic listings of IBD, 216 had true IBD, resulting in a positive predictive value (PPV) = 93% (95% confidence interval (CI) 89–96), sensitivity = 88% (95% CI 83–92), specificity = 100% (95% CI 100–100), and negative predictive value (NPV) = 100% (95% CI 100–100). The PPV for the NPR-based definitions of IBD subtypes at time of first IBD diagnosis and at end of follow-up were 78% (95% CI 69–86) and 88% (95% CI 80–94), respectively, for Crohn’s disease and 74% (95% CI 63–83) and 71% (95% CI 60–80), respectively, for ulcerative colitis.

Conclusion

The validity of register-based definitions of childhood-onset IBD in the Swedish NPR is high and can be used to identify patients in observational research.

Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in Crohn's disease and the effect on surgery rates

AIM

Surgery is an important therapeutic option for Crohn's disease. The need for first bowel surgery seems to have decreased with the introduction of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi; adalimumab or infliximab). However, the impact of TNFi on the need for intestinal surgery in Crohn's disease patients irrespective of prior bowel resection is not known. The aim of this work is to compare the incidence of bowel surgery in Crohn's disease patients who remain on TNFi treatment versus those who discontinue it.

METHOD

We performed a nationwide register-based observational cohort study in Sweden of all incident and prevalent cases of Crohn's disease who started first-line TNFi treatment between 2006 and 2017. Patients were categorized according to TNFi treatment retention less than or beyond 1 year. The study cohort was evaluated with regard to incidence of bowel surgery from 12 months after the first ever TNFi dispensation.

RESULTS

We identified 5003 Crohn's disease patients with TNFi exposure: 3748 surgery naïve and 1255 with bowel surgery prior to TNFi initiation. Of these patients, 7% (n = 353) were subjected to abdominal surgery during the first 12 months after the start of TNFi and were subsequently excluded from the main analysis. A majority (62%) continued TNFi for 12 months or more. Treatment with TNFi for less than 12 months was associated with a significantly higher surgery rate compared with patients who continued on TNFi for 12 months or more (hazard ratio 1.26, 95% CI 1.09-1.46; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with TNFi for less than 12 months was associated with a higher risk of bowel surgery in Crohn's disease patients compared with those who continued TNFi for 12 months or more.

Impact of treatment with immunomodulators and tumour necrosis factor antagonists on the incidence of infectious events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids, immunomodulators (IM) and tumour necrosis factor antagonists (anti-TNF) are commonly used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but they also supress the defence against infectious disease. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence of infectious events in patients with IBD and the association to concomitant medical therapy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective medical chart review of patients with IBD aged 18-65 years included in the Swedish Registry of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the catchment area of Umeå University Hospital, Sweden. Data were collected from the period 01 January 2006, to 31 January 2019. An infectious event was defined as an outpatient prescription of antimicrobials or a positive diagnostic test for infection.

RESULTS

During a period of 5,120 observation-years, we observed 1,394 events in 593 patients. The mean number of infectious events per 100 person-years was 27.2 (standard deviation [SD]: 0.46). There were no differences in mean incidence rates between patients treated with no immunosuppression (23.0 events per 100 person-years, SD: 50.4), patients treated with IM monotherapy (27.6 events per 100 person-years, SD: 49.9), patients treated with anti-TNF monotherapy (34.3 events per 100 person-years, SD: 50.1) and patients on combination therapy (22.5 events per 100-person-years, SD: 44.2). In a multivariate logistic regression, female gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-3.37) and combination therapy (AOR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.52-7.85) were associated with higher risks of infection (>32 events per 100 person years). Also, patients treated with any immunosuppression treatment for 25-75% (AOR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.21-4.34) and for >75% (AOR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.19-3.12) of the observation period were at higher risks compared to patients treated with immunosuppression <25% of the observation period.

CONCLUSION

We observed no significant difference in risk for infections between patients on monotherapy with IM or anti-TNF and patients with low use of immunosuppression, but there was a significant risk for combination therapy.

Predictors of drug survival: A cohort study comparing anti-tumour necrosis factor agents using the Swedish inflammatory bowel disease quality register

BACKGROUND

Whether long-term effectiveness differs between anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents is unknown.

AIMS

To examine drug survival of first-line anti-TNF agents and identify predictors of discontinuation. To reduce channelling bias, we also compared drug survival of the second anti-TNF.

METHODS

Biologic-naïve patients (N = 955) recorded in the Swedish IBD Quality Register (SWIBREG) were examined. We used propensity score matching, comparing drug survival over up to three years of follow-up. Cox regression estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In Crohn's disease, discontinuation because of lack/loss of response was 32% [95%CI = 26%-38%] for infliximab versus 16% [95%CI = 11%-21%] for adalimumab. Infliximab [vs adalimumab; aHR = 1.96; 95%CI = 1.20-3.21] and colonic disease (L2) [vs no L2; aHR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.26-3.75] were associated with higher discontinuation rates, whereas normalised CRP at three months [aHR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.19-0.81] with a lower rate. Consistently, patients who switched from adalimumab to infliximab (vs infliximab to adalimumab) had earlier discontinuation (P = 0.04). Concomitant use of immunomodulators was associated with a lower adverse drug reaction-mediated discontinuation rate [aHR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.28-0.77], in part explained by fewer infusion reactions [aHR = 0.27; 95% CI = 0.08-0.89]. In ulcerative colitis, the probability of discontinuation because of lack/loss of response was 40% [95% CI = 33%-47%] for infliximab versus 37% [95% CI = 21%-53%] for adalimumab. Disease duration ≥10 years [aHR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.10-0.58] and normalised CRP after three months [aHR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.18-0.84] were associated with lower discontinuation rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical characterisation of patients may aid decision-making on anti-TNF treatment. The consistently shorter drug survival for infliximab (vs adalimumab) in Crohn's disease, suggests a potential difference between the two drugs.

Increased risk of cancer in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Background and aims

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is associated with an increased risk of hepatobiliary and colorectal cancer, but the risks of other cancer forms have not been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of intestinal and extraintestinal cancers in a large, well-defined cohort of PSC patients.

Material and method

A matched cohort study of Swedish PSC patients was performed with up to ten comparators for each patient, matched for sex, age, and residency. The data were retrieved from national registers. Patients were followed from PSC diagnosis until cancer diagnosis, liver transplantation, first emigration date, death, or December 31, 2016. The risk of cancer was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression models.

Results

In total, 1432 PSC patients with a verified diagnosis and 14,437 comparators were studied. The mean follow-up time was 15.9 years. Eighty-eight percent of the PSC patients had concomitant inflammatory bowel disease. PSC patients ran significantly increased risks of developing any cancer [HR 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3–4.3], hepatobiliary cancer (HR 120.9, 95% CI 72.0–203.1), colorectal cancer (HR 7.5, 95% CI 5.6–10.0), pancreatic cancer (HR 8.0, 95% CI 3.2–20.2), gastric cancer (HR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5–11.3), small bowel cancer (HR 21.1, 95% CI 3.5–128.2), and lymphoma (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6–5.7). PSC was not associated with a lower risk of any cancer form.

Conclusions

PSC patients have a four times overall increased risk of developing cancer compared to the general population, with increased risk of developing hepatobiliary, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer, as well as lymphoma.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12072-021-10214-6.

Prospective observational study on Stelara (ustekinumab) assessing effectiveness in Crohn's disease (PROSE): a 16-week follow-up

BACKGROUND

Prospectively and systematically collected real-world data on the effectiveness of ustekinumab (anti-interleukin-12/23) for treating Crohn's disease (CD) are still limited.

AIM

To assess the short-term real-world effectiveness of ustekinumab in Swedish patients with active CD.

METHODS

Prospective multicentre study of adult CD patients initiating ustekinumab according to recommended doses at 20 hospitals, between January 2017 and November 2018. Data were collected through an electronic case report form (eCRF) linked to the Swedish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry (SWIBREG). The primary outcomes were clinical response (≥3-point-decrease of Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI)) and remission (HBI ≤4 points) at week 16. Secondary outcomes included C-reactive protein (CRP) and haemoglobin (Hb) at baseline compared to week 16.

RESULTS

Of 114 included patients, 107 (94%) had failed ≥ 1 and 58 (51%) ≥ 2 biological agents (anti-tumour necrosis factor [aTNF] agents or vedolizumab). The 16-week ustekinumab retention rate was 105 (92%). Data on HBI at baseline were available for 96 patients. At week 16, response or remission was achieved in 38/96 (40%) patients (25/96 (26%) achieving clinical remission and 23/96 (24%) showing a clinical response). The median CRP concentration (N = 65) decreased from 6 to 4 mg/l (p = .006). No significant changes in Hb were observed. No incident malignancies or infections, requiring antibiotic treatment, were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nation-wide prospective real-world study of adult patients with CD, ustekinumab was associated with clinical effectiveness when administered according to clinical practice and seemed to represent a safe treatment option.

Self-monitoring with home based fecal calprotectin is associated with increased medical treatment. A randomized controlled trial on patients with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES

Self-monitoring of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with the assistant of telemedicine and home-based fecal calprotectin (FC) tests is evolving in the management of IBD. We performed a randomized controlled trial to investigate the compliance and effects of the model IBD-Home in patients with IBD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were randomized to IBD-Home + standard care (n = 84) or standard care alone (n = 74). Intervention with IBD-Home included IBDoc^® FC test kits and a digital application used for answering symptom questionnaires (Abbvie/Telia). They were instructed to use these on demand during a 12-month period. Data was collected retrospectively from medical records. Patients who completed the intervention were phoned and asked to answer a survey about the experience of IBD-Home.

RESULTS

The compliance to IBD-Home was low (29%). Women were more compliant compared with men (43% vs 17%, p < .001). A significantly higher proportion of patients in the IBD-Home group increased their medical treatment during the study period in comparison to control subjects (33% vs 15% p = .007) and there was an association between an increase in treatment and compliance to IBD home (multivariate odds ratio 3.22; 95^th confidence interval 1.04 - 9.95). Overall patients reported a positive experience with slight technical difficulties.

CONCLUSION

Self-monitoring with home based fecal calprotectin and a digital application was found feasible and appreciated by compliers. Compliance to the IBD-Home model was more common in women and associated with an increased treatment for IBD.

A Novel Method for Quantifying Intestinal Inflammatory Burden in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Register Data

Background

The Swedish Quality Register for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SWIBREG) contains clinical data for the study of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Epidemiology Strengthened by histoPathology Reports in Sweden (ESPRESSO) cohort was recently established for the study of gastrointestinal histopathology. We aimed to develop and validate a histology score from ESPRESSO using clinical information from SWIBREG, and secondarily, to evaluate the association of the score on IBD-related hospitalization.

Methods

In a nationwide, population-based cohort study of patients with IBD during 1969-2017, we linked endoscopic inflammation in SWIBREG with histologic inflammation in ESPRESSO. We established a clinically interpretable model for predicting the endoscopic score from histology using scalable Bayesian rule lists to define a SNOMED-based histology score applicable to the ESPRESSO cohort. We also assessed the impact of baseline endoscopic and histology scores on time to IBD-related hospitalization.

Results

We identified 5225 individuals with IBD comprising 11,051 endoscopic assessments in SWIBREG linked to a histopathology record in ESPRESSO. We created predictive models to calculate a SNOMED-based histology score which predicted the endoscopic score. Split-sample validated areas under the ROC curves for the score predicting a non-zero endoscopic score were 0.80 (0.78-0.81) in UC, 0.70 (0.68-0.72) in CD, and 0.76 (0.73-0.78) in IBD-U. In a subset of 2741 individuals with an initial IBD diagnosis and a corresponding record in ESPRESSO with an endoscopic assessment in SWIBREG, the baseline endoscopic and histology scores were associated with time to IBD-related hospitalization (endoscopy log-rank UC p<0.001, CD p=0.020, IBD-U p<0.001; histology log-rank UC p=0.018, CD p=0.960, IBD-U p=0.034).

Conclusion

Histopathology data in ESPRESSO accurately predict endoscopic scores in SWIBREG. Baseline endoscopic and histologic scores were associated with time to IBD-related hospitalization, particularly in UC. The SNOMED-based histology score can be used as a measure of disease activity in future register-based IBD studies.

The use of ICD codes to identify IBD subtypes and phenotypes of the Montreal classification in the Swedish National Patient Register

Introduction: Whether data on International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-codes from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) correctly correspond to subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and phenotypes of the Montreal classification scheme among patients with prevalent disease is unknown.Materials and methods: We obtained information on IBD subtypes and phenotypes from the medical records of 1403 patients with known IBD who underwent biological treatment at ten Swedish hospitals and retrieved information on their IBD-associated diagnostic codes from the NPR. We used previously described algorithms to define IBD subtypes and phenotypes. Finally, we compared these register-generated subtypes and phenotypes with the corresponding information from the medical records and calculated positive predictive values (PPV) with 95% confidence intervals.Results: Among patients with clinically confirmed disease and diagnostic listings of IBD in the NPR (N = 1401), the PPV was 97 (96-99)% for Crohn's disease, 98 (97-100)% for ulcerative colitis, and 8 (4-11)% for IBD-unclassified. The overall accuracy for age at diagnosis was 95% (when defined as A1, A2, or A3). Examining the validity of codes representing disease phenotype, the PPV was 36 (32-40)% for colonic Crohn's disease (L2), 61 (56-65)% for non-stricturing/non-penetrating Crohn's disease behaviour (B1) and 83 (78-87)% for perianal disease. Correspondingly, the PPV was 80 (71-89)% for proctitis (E1)/left-sided colitis (E2) in ulcerative colitis.Conclusions: Among people with known IBD, the NPR is a reliable source of data to classify most subtypes of prevalent IBD, even though misclassification commonly occurred in Crohn's disease location and behaviour and also among IBD-unclassified patients.