A survey of current practice of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease patients in the United States

Standard and Extended Thromboprophylaxis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, frequently experience venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially fatal consequence. The pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to VTE include inflammation, modifications in coagulation factors, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation. Numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, have a significant impact on the thrombotic cascade. Patients with IBD are more likely to suffer VTE for a variety of causes. Exacerbations of preexisting conditions, admission to the hospital, surgical intervention, immobilization, corticosteroid usage, central venous catheterization, and hereditary susceptibility all fit into this category. The mainstay of therapy for VTE in IBD patients includes anticoagulation that is individualized for each patient depending on the thrombosis site, severity, bleeding risk, and interaction with other drugs. In some high-risk IBD patients, such as those having major surgery or hospitalized with severe flare, preventive anticoagulation may play a role. However, the acceptance rate for this recommendation is low. Additionally, there is a subset of patients who would require extended thromboprophylaxis. The majority of the studies that looked into this question consisted of patients in the surgical setting. Emerging data suggest that risk factors other than surgery can also dictate the duration of anticoagulation. While extending anticoagulation in all patients may help reduce VTE-related mortality, identifying these risk factors is important. Hence, the decision to initiate prophylaxis should be individualized, considering the overall thrombotic and bleeding risks. This review explores the relationship between IBD and VTE, including risk factors, epidemiology, and prevention. A multifactorial approach involving aggressive management of underlying inflammation, identification of modifiable risk factors, and judicious use of anticoagulant therapy is essential for reducing the burden of VTE in this vulnerable population.

How to cite this article

Harindranath S, Varghese J, Afzalpurkar S, et al. Standard and Extended Thromboprophylaxis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2023;13(2):133-141.

Clinician barriers, perceptions, and practices in treating patients with hepatitis C virus and substance use disorder in the United States

The likelihood of clinicians prescribing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and substance use disorder (SUD) was assessed via a survey emailed throughout the United States to clinicians (physicians and advanced practice providers) in gastroenterology, hepatology, and infectious disease specialties. Clinicians' perceived barriers and preparedness and actions associated with current and future DAA prescribing practices of HCV-infected patients with SUD were assessed. Of 846 clinicians presumably receiving the survey, 96 completed and returned it. Exploratory factor analyses of perceived barriers indicated a highly reliable (Cronbach alpha = 0.89) model with five factors: HCV stigma and knowledge, prior authorization requirements, and patient- clinician-, and system-related barriers. In multivariable analyses, after controlling for covariates, patient-related barriers (P < 0.01) and prior authorization requirements (P < 0.01) were negatively associated with the likelihood of prescribing DAAs. Exploratory factor analyses of clinician preparedness and actions indicated a highly reliable (Cronbach alpha = 0.75) model with three factors: beliefs and comfort level; action; and perceived limitations. Clinician beliefs and comfort levels were negatively associated with the likelihood of prescribing DAAs (P = 0.01). Composite scores of barriers (P < 0.01) and clinician preparedness and actions (P < 0.05) were also negatively associated with the intent to prescribe DAAs.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the importance of addressing patient-related barriers and prior authorization requirements-significant problematic barriers-and improving clinicians' beliefs (e.g., medication-assisted therapy should be prescribed before DAAs) and comfort levels for treating patients with HCV and SUD to enhance treatment access for patients with both HCV and SUD.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis following colorectal surgery: a survey of American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ASCRS) member surgeons

BACKGROUND

Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with significant morbidity. Evidence from other surgical specialties demonstrate inadequate use of extended VTE prophylaxis following cancer surgery. While guidelines recommend extended VTE prophylaxis for patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC), it is unknown to what extent colon and rectal surgeons adhere to these recommendations.

METHODS

An 18-question online survey was distributed to all surgeon members of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). The survey was designed to capture knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ASCRS VTE prevention guidelines. Questions were also designed to elucidate barriers to adopting these guidelines.

RESULTS

The survey was distributed to 2,316 ASCRS-member surgeons and there were 201 complete responses (8.7% response rate). Most respondents (136/201, 68%) reported that they were familiar with ASCRS VTE prevention guidelines and used them to guide their practice. Extended VTE prophylaxis was reported to be routinely prescribed by the majority of surgeons following CRC resection (109/201, 54%), with an additional 27% reporting selective prescribing (55/201). The most frequently reported reasons for not prescribing extended VTE chemoprophylaxis following CRC resection included patient compliance and insurance/copay issues.

CONCLUSION

Most ASCRS-member surgeon respondents reported that they are familiar with ASCRS VTE prevention guidelines, though only 54% surgeons reported routinely prescribing extended VTE prophylaxis following CRC surgery. Patient compliance and insurance issues were identified as the most common barriers. Targeted interventions at the surgeon, patient, and payer level are required to increase the use of extended VTE prophylaxis following CRC resection.

Thromboembolism is associated with poor prognosis and high mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

The information on the risk of thromboembolism (TE) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its predictors are lacking, especially from developing countries. The present study evaluated the prevalence, predictors, and prognosis of TE in IBD.

METHODS

This case-control study included 35 patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis [UC, n = 25]; Crohn's disease [CD], n = 10) and history of TE, from a cohort of 3597 patients (UC n = 2752, CD n = 845) under follow-up from 2005 to 2018. Details on demographics, extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), patient status, type and outcomes of TE, treatment details, and disease course were compared with IBD patients without TE (age, gender, and duration of follow-up matched) in the ratio of 1:4.

RESULTS

Prevalence of TE in IBD was 0.9% (UC-0.89%, CD-1.2%). Among TE patients (mean age: 34.9 ± 13.1 years, 48.6% males), median duration from diagnosis to TE was 12 (inter-quartile range [IQR]: 3-36) months, 37% had other EIMs, 94.1% had moderate/severe disease at time of TE, 62.8% had steroid-dependent/refractory disease, and 5 patients (14.2%) died because of disease-related complications. Lower limb was the commonest site (57.1%), 14.3% had pulmonary TE, and 31.4% had involvement of multiple sites. Phenotypically, more patients with TE (among UC) had steroid-dependent disease (60% vs. 25%, p = 0.001), pancolitis (76% vs. 36%, p = 0.002), chronic continuous disease course (44% vs. 19%, p = 0.009), and acute severe colitis (48% vs. 18%, p = 0.002), of which the latter three were also independent predictors of TE.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 1% of patients with IBD develop thromboembolism relatively early during their disease course, and TE is associated with severe disease and higher disease-related complications including mortality.

Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism in a Hospitalized Ulcerative Colitis Patient

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), though physicians may be unaware of this risk or hesitant to start pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis in the presence of active gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a case of a 38-year-old patient hospitalized with acute severe ulcerative colitis (UC) who was not placed on pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis and developed bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). The patient's UC did not respond to medical therapy. Due to his PE, the patient’s total proctocolectomy was delayed six months. He also developed a large pelvic hematoma after colectomy requiring further surgical intervention. Hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients require pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis unless they have life-threatening bleeding.

Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Asian Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-Based Nationwide Inception Cohort Study

Background/Aims

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, to date, there have been few studies on the risk of VTE in Asian IBD patients. We aimed to estimate the incidence of VTE in Asian IBD patients and to determine if IBD is related to increased VTE risk.

Methods

We performed a population-based cohort study between 2004 and 2015 using Korean National Health Insurance data. IBD and VTE were defined by ICD-10 codes. Incidence rates of VTE were calculated among patients with IBD and among age- and sex-matched controls. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox regression with adjustment for multiple variables. We performed additional analyses stratifying by age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, and disease type.

Results

Among the 45,037 patients with IBD (IBD cohort) and 133,019 matched controls (non-IBD cohort) included in our analysis, 411 IBD patients and 641 controls developed VTE. The IBD cohort had a higher incidence rate ratio and risk of VTE than the non-IBD cohort (incidence rate ratio 1.92 and hazard ratio 1.93). Older age, female sex, higher CCI scores, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, use of steroids, and hospitalization were significant risk factors for VTE in patients with IBD.

Conclusions

The IBD patients in this study were approximately two times more likely to develop VTE than the non-IBD individuals. Our findings support the need for thromboprophylaxis in Asian IBD patients with various factors that further increase the risk of VTE.

Role of hospitalization for inflammatory bowel disease in the post-biologic era

Treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often requires specialized care. While much of IBD care has shifted to the outpatient setting, hospitalizations remain a major site of healthcare utilization and a sizable proportion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease require hospitalization or surgery during their lifetime. In this review, we approach IBD care from the population-level with a specific focus on hospitalization for IBD, including the shifts from inpatient to outpatient care, the balance of emergency and elective hospitalizations, regionalization of specialty IBD care, and contribution of surgery and endoscopy to hospitalized care.

The risk of venous thromboembolic events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that has been associated with increased risk of extraintestinal manifestations, amongst which is venous thromboembolism (VTE). We assessed the risk for VTE in patients with IBD through systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic search for English language studies was conducted in Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library of publications from database inception till August 10, 2020, to identify relevant studies reporting the risk of VTE in patients with IBD. The random-effects and fixed-effect models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

RESULTS

Eleven observational studies were included in this meta-analysis, involving 3,175,012 patients with IBD and 920,144,253 controls without IBD. The overall RR for VTE in patients with IBD compared to non-IBD individuals was 2.03 (95%CI 1.72-2.39). An analysis of studies with larger population size demonstrated a lower risk for VTE (RR 1.77, 95%CI 1.48-2.13) among patients with IBD, whereas studies with a smaller population size yielded a greater risk for VTE (RR 2.67, 95%CI 1.97-2.93). After adjustment for smoking and body mass index, the RR for VTE was moderately increased (RR 2.65, 95%CI 1.51-4.65).

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis shows that IBD is linked to a 2-fold increased risk for VTE. Thus, primary prevention against VTE is of the utmost importance.

Methodology and Initial Results From a Real-World Observational Cohort of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: TARGET-IBD

Background

Data on care patterns for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from large-scale, diverse clinical cohorts in real-world practice are sparse. We developed a real-world cohort of patients receiving care at academic and community sites, for comparative study of therapies and natural history of IBD.

Methods

We describe novel methodology of central abstraction of clinical data into a real-world IBD registry with patient reported outcomes (PROs). Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, healthcare utilization, and disease metrics were assessed. Bivariate statistics were used to compare demographic and clinical data by Crohn disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) and site of care (academic, community).

Results

In 1 year, 1343 IBD patients (60.1% CD, 38.9% UC) were recruited from 27 academic (49.5%) and community (50.5%) sites, exceeding expectations (110% enrolled). Most participants also consented to provide PROs (59.5%) or biosamples (85.7%). Overall, 48.7% of the cohort provided a baseline PRO, and 62.6% provided a biosample. Compared to UC, CD subjects had higher prior (34.1% CD vs 7.7% UC; P < 0.001) and current (72.1% vs 47.9%; P < 0.001) biologic utilization. CD participants from academic sites had more complicated disease than those from community sites (62.5% vs 46.8% stricturing/penetrating; 33.5% vs 27% perianal; 36.8% vs 14.5% prior biologic, respectively). Nearly all (90.4%) participants had endoscopic data of whom 37.7% were in remission. One-year retention was 98.4%.

Conclusions

Centralized data abstraction and electronic PRO capture provided efficient recruitment into a large real-world observational cohort. This novel platform provides a resource for clinical outcomes and comparative effectiveness research in IBD.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes: From Pathogenesis to the Fine Line Between Bleeding and Ischemic Risk

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a pathological condition that first involves the gastrointestinal wall but can also trigger a systemic inflammatory state and thus extraintestinal manifestations. Systemic inflammation is probably secondary to the passage of bacterial products into the bloodstream because of altered intestinal permeability and the consequent release of proinflammatory mediators. Inflammation, through several diverse pathophysiological pathways, determines both a procoagulative state and systemic endothelial dysfunction, which are both deemed to be responsible for venous and arterial thromboembolic adverse events. The management of systemic thrombotic complications is particularly challenging in this category of patients, who also present a high bleeding risk; what is more, both bleeding and thrombotic risks peak during the active phases of the disease. The literature suggests that treating physicians have been, so far, more heavily influenced by concerns about bleeding than by the thrombotic risk. Despite the absence of data provided by large cohorts or randomized studies, the high risk of arterial and venous atherothrombosis in patients with IBD seems unquestionable. Moreover, several reports suggest that when arterial thromboembolism involves the coronary vessels, causing acute coronary syndromes, ischemic complications from antithrombotic drug undertreatment are frequent and severe. This review aims to shed light on the tricky balance between the ischemic and hemorrhagic risks of patients with IBD and to highlight how difficult it is for clinicians to define a tailored therapy based on a case-by-case, careful, and unprejudiced clinical evaluation.

Survey of barriers to adherence to international inflammatory bowel disease guidelines: Does gastroenterologists' confidence translate to high adherence?

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Despite the availability of evidence-based inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) guidelines, suboptimal care persists. There is little published research assessing barriers to IBD guideline adherence. This study aimed to identify barriers to IBD guideline adherence including gastroenterologists' knowledge and attitudes towards guidelines.

METHODS

An online cross-sectional survey of 824 Australian gastroenterologists was conducted from April to August 2018, with 198 (24%) responses. A novel survey was developed which was informed by the theoretical domain's framework.

RESULTS

Confidence in guideline recommendations was high, however referral to them was low. The European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guidelines were the most commonly referred to (43.6%). In multivariate analysis, significant predictors of frequent versus infrequent guideline referral were: high confidence in the guideline (OR 7.70, 95% CI: 2.43-24.39, p = 0.001), and low (≤10 years) clinical experience (OR 3.62, 95% CI: 1.11-11.79, p = 0.03). The most common barriers to guideline adherence were not having time (62%) followed by guideline specifics being difficult to remember (61%). Low confidence was reported in managing pregnancy and IBD (34%) and loss of response to therapy (29%). High confidence was reported in managing immunomodulators, however only 43% answered the associated knowledge question correctly.

CONCLUSION

Although gastroenterologists' have high confidence in guidelines, they use them infrequently, primarily due to specifics being difficult to remember and lack of time. Self-reported confidence in an area of IBD management does not always reflect knowledge. An intervention targeting these barriers, for example computer-based clinical decision support tools, may improve adherence and standardise care. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Thrombosis in IBD in the Era of JAK Inhibition

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have an increased risk of thrombosis. The interaction between inflammation and coagulation has extensively been studied. It is well-- known that some drugs can influence the haemostatic system, but several concerns on the association between therapies and increased risk of thrombosis remain open. While biologics seem to have a protective role against thrombosis via their anti-inflammatory effect, some concerns about an increased risk of thrombosis with JAK inhibitors have been raised. We conducted a literature review to assess the association between biologics/small molecules and venous/arterial thrombotic complications. An increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis was found in patients treated with corticosteroids, whereas anti-TNFα were considered protective agents. No thromboembolic adverse event was reported with vedolizumab and ustekinumab. In addition, thromboembolic events rarely occurred in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) after therapy with tofacitinib. The overall risk of both venous and arterial thrombosis was not increased based on the available evidence. Finally, in the era of JAK inhibitors, the treatment should be individualized by evaluating the pre-existing potential thrombotic risk balanced with the intrinsic risk of the medication used.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Thrombosis: A National Inpatient Sample Study

Introduction  Thrombosis is more common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients than the general population, but disease-specific correlates of thrombosis remain unclear.

Methods  We performed a retrospective analysis of discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample between 2009 and 2014, using International Disease Classification codes to identify IBD and non-IBD patients with or without thrombosis. We used NIS-provided discharge-level weights to reflect prevalence estimates. Categoric variables were analyzed by Rao-Scott Chi-square test, continuous variables by weighted simple linear regression, and covariates associated with thrombosis by weighted multivariable logistic regression.

Results  Thrombosis prevalence in IBD was significantly greater than in non-IBD, 7.52 versus 4.54%, p  < 0.0001. IBD patients with thrombosis were older and more likely to be Caucasian than IBD without thrombosis, each p  < 0.001. Thrombosis occurred most commonly in the mesenteric vein. Thrombotic risk factors in IBD include surgery, ports, malignancy, dehydration, malnutrition, and steroids at 53.7, 13.2, 13.1, 12.4, 8.9, and 8.2%, respectively. Those with thrombosis had greater severity of illness, 1.42 versus 0.96; length of stay, 7.7 versus 5.5 days; and mortality, 3.8 versus 1.5%; all p  < 0.0001. Adjusting for age and comorbidity, odds ratios for predictors of thrombosis included ports, steroids, malnutrition, and malignancy at 1.73, 1.61, 1.34, and 1.13, respectively, while Asian race, 0.61, was protective, each p  < 0.001.

Conclusion  Thrombosis prevalence is 1.7-fold greater in IBD than non-IBD patients. Adjusting for age and comorbidity, the odds ratio for thrombosis in IBD was 73% higher with ports, 61% higher with steroids, 34% with malnutrition, and 13% with malignancy. Whether long-term anticoagulation would benefit the latter is unknown.

An international polypectomy practice survey

Background and study aims: In recent years, cold snare polypectomy (CSP) has been recommended as the preferred approach for removal of small and diminutive colorectal polyps. We conducted an international survey among endoscopists to understand the uptake of CSP and changes in polypectomy practice during recent years.Patients and methods: Endoscopists were invited through gastroenterology, colorectal surgery and endoscopy societies to participate in an online survey. The primary outcome was to identify the predominant polypectomy approach used to remove 4‒10 mm colorectal polyps. Secondary outcomes included the uptake of CSP in the past 5 years, current polypectomy practice patterns for 1‒20 mm polyps, practice changes in recent years, and perceived benefits/concerns related to different polypectomy techniques.Results: The survey was distributed internationally by nine societies and completed by 808 endoscopists (response rate 3.7%). CSP was the predominant polypectomy technique for 4‒5 mm polyps (67.0%, 95% CI, 63.7-70.2%) and 6‒10 mm polyps (55.2%, 95% CI, 51.8-58.6%). For 1‒3 mm polyps, cold forceps remained the predominant technique (78.4%, 95% CI, 75.6-81.3%), whereas hot snare polypectomy (HSP) remained the predominant technique for 10‒20 mm polyps (92.5%, 95% CI, 90.7-94.3%). 87.5% (95% CI, 85.2-89.8%) of endoscopists reported an increase in CSP use during the past 5 years.Conclusions: This survey found a substantial increase in CSP use during recent years. CSP has become the predominant polypectomy approach for 4‒10 mm colorectal polyps, while HSP remained the predominant approach for larger (10‒20 mm) polyps. Clinical practice patterns are well aligned with recently issued guideline recommendations.

Venous thromboembolism in inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE events carry significant morbidity and mortality, and have been associated with worse outcomes in patients with IBD. Studies have suggested that the hypercoagulable nature of the disease stems from a complex interplay of systems that include the coagulation cascade, natural coagulation inhibitors, fibrinolytic system, endothelium, immune system, and platelets. Additionally, clinical factors that increase the likelihood of a VTE event among IBD patients include older age (though some studies suggest younger patients have a higher relative risk of VTE, the incidence in this population is much lower as compared to the older IBD patient population), pregnancy, active disease, more extensive disease, hospitalization, the use of certain medications such as corticosteroids or tofacitinb, and IBD-related surgeries. Despite the increased risk of VTE among IBD patients and the safety of pharmacologic prophylaxis, adherence rates among hospitalized IBD patients appear to be low. Furthermore, recent data suggests that there is a population of high risk IBD patients who may benefit from post-discharge prophylaxis. This review will provide an overview of patient specific factors that affect VTE risk, elucidate reasons for lack of VTE prophylaxis among hospitalized IBD patients, and focus on recent data describing those at highest risk for recurrent VTE post-hospital discharge.

Errors in the care of inflammatory bowel disease patients: "Errata" Study

INTRODUCTION

Errors are very common in daily clinical practice; however, they can be prevented. Our aim was to identify the most common errors in the outpatient management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with IBD, being treated at our IBD Unit and who were referred for a second opinion were consecutively enrolled. Data on the strategies implemented by their previous physicians were obtained. These strategies were compared with the currently recommended diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

RESULTS

Seventy-four IBD patients were enrolled. Prior to care in our Unit, screening for tobacco use had been performed in 50% of Crohn's disease patients, while smoking cessation counselling had been provided in 29%. At the time of IBD diagnosis, the hepatitis B virus immunization status had been investigated in 16% of the patients, the hepatitis C virus status in 15%, and the varicella status in 7%. Seven percent of the patients had been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus, and 3% against influenza, tetanus and pneumococcus. Sixty-seven percent of the patients with an indication for use of 5-aminosalicylic acid and 37% of those with an indication for immunosuppressants had received the indicated drug.

DISCUSSION

Errors in the outpatient management of IBD patients are very common and relevant.

Survey of current treatment practices for venous thromboembolism in patients with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) pose therapeutic challenges including potential drug interactions between CF-related therapies and anticoagulants. Despite these challenges, there are no recommendations for VTE management specific to patients with CF. Our objective was to describe VTE treatment practices among Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF)-accredited care centers and affiliate programs in the United States.

METHODS

An online survey was distributed to CF center directors. The survey included questions regarding centers' demographics and posed a series of hypothetical clinical scenarios to gather centers' VTE treatment practices including choice of anticoagulant, dosing practices, duration decisions, and monitoring efforts. Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize the survey results.

RESULTS

The survey response rate was 56.3%. Most centers reported treating zero to five VTE episodes per year. The following anticoagulants were used most often for VTE treatment: low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) (73.2%), apixaban (36.6%), warfarin (35.2%), rivaroxaban (33.8%), and unfractionated heparin (18.3%). On a scale of 0 to 100, the median confidence level in managing anticoagulant therapy was 50. Many centers expressed a desire for a CF-specific VTE treatment guideline. The most commonly cited challenging clinical situations were managing anticoagulant therapy complications (26.5%) and drug-drug interactions (21.3%). For common VTE scenarios, pediatric patients were most often treated with LMWH and warfarin, whereas adult patients were more often treated with apixaban or rivaroxaban.

CONCLUSIONS

Survey results indicated CF care centers find managing VTE in patients with CF challenging and indicated that a CF-specific VTE treatment guideline would be helpful.

Increased Transfusion Requirements with Pharmacologic Thromboembolism Prophylaxis During Inflammatory Bowel Disease Exacerbation

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exacerbation requiring hospitalization increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and current guidelines recommend pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis (PVTEP).

AIMS

Bleeding risks with PVTEP in this population are poorly defined, and no study has investigated packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion requirements in this population.

METHODS

We conducted a chart review of all adult hospitalizations for IBD exacerbation within the Northwell Healthcare system. Patient characteristics recorded included demographics, disease type ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, severe disease defined by inpatient corticosteroid or biologic use, and admission hemoglobin. Inpatient use of PVTEP and anti-platelet therapies were identified. The primary outcome was the occurrence of any packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion.

RESULTS

In total, 717 patients met inclusion criteria, accounting for 891 admissions. PVTEP was used during 60.4% of admissions, and 11.1% of patient admissions included a transfusion event. Severe disease patients receiving PVTEP had an 18.6% transfusion risk, versus 11.1% for those not receiving PVTEP, OR 1.82, CI (1.04-3.17). One multivariable analysis transfusion was associated with PVTEP, OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.18, 3.77, p = 0.0120, disease severity OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.81,5.54, p < 0.0001, anti-platelet therapies OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.23-4.90, p = 0.0107, bowel resection OR 3.88, 95% CI 1.97,7.63, p < 0.0001 and decreased admission hemoglobin OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.73-2.32, p < 0.0001, but not disease type ulcerative colitis OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.42-1.20.

CONCLUSION

PVTEP during IBD exacerbation is associated with increased PRBC transfusions. Our findings do not constitute a contraindication to PVTEP, but may be incorporated into patient counseling during inpatient IBD management.

Clinical decision support improves quality of care in patients with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Decision support tools may facilitate shared decision-making and improve quality of care.

AIM

To assess the effectiveness of a decision support tool on improving quality of care in ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

A prospective quality of care intervention was conducted at two Australian hospitals comparing out-patient-based ulcerative colitis care with, and without, a tablet-based decision support tool. This included questions on disease activity management; psychological well-being; and preventive care, with 13 process indicators relevant to each domain. Participants included adult out-patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis and their clinicians who were divided into two cohorts. The first cohort were followed up immediately after their clinical review to check whether their clinician had discussed the 13 process indicators during the consultation. The second cohort of patients used the decision support tool immediately prior to their consultation which then generated a suggested management plan for the patient and clinician to discuss during the consultation. Management between the 2 cohorts was compared to assess the effectiveness of the decision support tool in improving the primary outcome, defined as the proportion of quality process indicators used for ulcerative colitis care, with and without the decision support tool.

RESULTS

Thirteen physicians and 100 patients participated. Fifty patients were managed without the decision support tool using standard care (median age 40; 44% male), and 50 patients used the decision support tool (median age 40; 46% male) over a 20-week period. Increase in the median use of process indicators overall was observed following use of the decision support tool (27% vs 100%; P < 0.001). Improvements were seen in psychological well-being management (30% vs 100%; P < 0.001), preventive care (16% vs 100%; P < 0.001) and process indicators related to disease activity management (50% vs 100%; P < 0.001). The decision support tool was found to be usable and acceptable. Shared decision-making was greater in the post-intervention group (mean decision conflict score of 18.0 vs 33.5; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The decision support tool substantially improved the quality of the delivery of care. Decision support tools have the potential to minimise errors of omission via a standardised approach to care.

Cardiocerebral and peripheral vascular risks in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the digestive tract. In addition to intestinal manifestations, it also has many extraintestinal manifestations. There have been a number of reports of IBD with secondary opportunistic infections, perforation, cancer, etc. IBD is reported with more and more cardiovascular events, but the conclusions are still controversial. At present, clinicians pay insufficient attention to the assessment of cardiocerebral and peripheral vascular risks in IBD. This article reviews the relevant literature on cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular risks in IBD published in recent years, with an aim to help clinicians be familiar with these risks and develop individualized management regimens in clinical practice.

Guideline recommendations for treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases are not implemented in clinical practice-results of a non-representative survey

PURPOSE

There is a growing evidence for over-, under-, or misuse of health care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Most studies looked at treatment variability or used quality measures, which mostly capture supportive interventions rather than treatment of IBD in itself. We aimed to evaluate if current recommendations in clinical practice guidelines regarding the medical treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases are being followed in Germany.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to 1901 patients insured with two large German statutory sickness funds and an ICD 10 diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). The questionnaire asked about drug treatment, indications for drug treatment, provision of surveillance endoscopies in ulcerative colitis patients, and smoking status in Crohn's disease patients.

RESULTS

Out of 460 evaluable patients, 62.4% of UC patients and 53.9% of CD patients were treated with mesalamine according to guidelines, 91.3% of all patients were treated with glucocorticoids according to guideline recommendations, while only 75.6% received recommended immunosuppressive treatment. Of UC patients, 94.5% had surveillance colonoscopies at the recommended interval and 58.8% of CD patients were non-smokers. No predictor for overall treatment according to guidelines could be found while being of age older than 60 or being treated outside of a dedicated IBD clinic was associated with less immunosuppressive treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of patients with IBD do not receive drug treatment in accordance with clinical practice guidelines. Quality improvement measures are much needed.

Improving Care in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) stand to benefit from quality improvement (QI) due to the chronic nature of the disease, frequent interaction with the health care system, and exposure to high-risk treatments. The use of QI in health care has led to significant improvements in quality and reliability of care. Despite these advances, significant deficits in providing high-quality pediatric IBD care persist. This article describes a brief history of health care QI, identifies gaps and challenges in delivery of quality pediatric IBD care, highlights several IBD QI initiatives, and concludes with future directions for improving pediatric IBD outcomes.

Oral antiplatelets in primary and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction: a review

There are a number of guidelines and articles available for the use of oral antiplatelets for primary and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI). Antiplatelet medications inhibit platelet activation, aggregation, and other pathways eventually inhibiting clot formation. Aspirin and clopidogrel have been the mainstay in the management of acute coronary syndrome for about a decade. We have discussed the role of aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and prasugrel which are the most commonly used oral antiplatelet medications in the current era. We have also considered the role of newer thrombin inhibitor vorapaxar, and dual antiplatelet therapy. In this review paper, we have summarized the continuing controversy about the use of oral antiplatelet therapy and their role in primary as well as secondary prevention of MI by describing results from major clinical trials. The safety and the efficacy of the above medications have been reviewed and described in this paper.

Improving Quality in the Care of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Efforts to improve healthcare quality were firmly established before the Institute of Medicine (IOM) historic 2000 and 2001 reports, To Err is Human Building a Safer Health System and Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century Despite the long-standing healthcare quality improvement (QI) efforts that date back to the turn of the 20th century, the IOM reports significantly advanced the awareness of healthcare quality deficits and the resulting risk to patients from those gaps in care. Studies immediately following the IOM reports emphasized and verified the presence of detrimental care gaps and highlighted a myriad of contributing factors. Studies focused specifically on the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis , demonstrated suboptimal patient outcomes stemming from, in part, system and provider variation. In the years that have followed, research studies have shown the persistence of suboptimal outcomes in IBD despite an awareness of key drivers for poor care quality and concerted efforts in advancing QI initiatives. In 2017, IBD advocacy groups and provider networks have demonstrated progress in furthering both pediatric and adult IBD outcomes through the use of QI methods and tools including collaborative learning networks. A significant amount of work lies ahead, however, to build upon these advances and improve IBD outcomes further. This article reviews the history of quality initiatives in healthcare, identifies ongoing gaps in IBD care with a review of current IBD improvement efforts taking place, and identifies several targets for improving IBD care quality moving forward into the 21st century.

An Electronic Alert System Is Associated With a Significant Increase in Pharmacologic Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Rates Among Hospitalized Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

BACKGROUND

Utilization of pharmacologic venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients seems to be suboptimal with reported rates as low as 50% in some studies. Implementation of an electronic alert system seems to be an effective tool for increasing VTE prophylaxis rates in medical inpatients. To date, no studies have assessed whether this approach is associated with improved rates of pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis specifically in IBD patients.

AIMS

To determine the efficacy of an electronic alert in improving VTE prophylaxis rates in hospitalized IBD patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 576 hospitalized IBD patients. The medical record of each patient was then examined to determine whether pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis was both ordered and administered, the timing of pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis, and reasons for any missed doses.

RESULTS

The VTE pharmacologic prophylaxis rate was improved from 60% to 81.2% following the implementation of the electronic alert system (p < .001). An increase in prophylaxis rates was seen in both medical (26.3% vs. 62.8%, p < .001) and surgical services (83.7% vs. 95.5%, p < .001). In patients who received pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis, 16% of all ordered doses were not administered and 57.3% of missed doses were the result of patient refusal. Hospitalization after implementation of the electronic alert system (odds ratio [OR] 4.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.94-7.57) and admission to a surgical service (OR 14.3, 95% CI 8.62-24.39) were predictive of VTE pharmacologic prophylaxis orders.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of an electronic alert system was associated with a significant increase in rates of pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. However, orders were often delayed and doses not always administered. The most common reason that ordered doses were not given was patient refusal.

Practices, attitudes, and knowledge about Crohn's disease and smoking cessation among gastroenterologists

OBJECTIVE

Cigarette smoking is one of the most important, modifiable environmental factors in Crohn's disease (CD) and screening for tobacco use is an official recommendation and quality measure in the care of CD patients. The objective of this study was to learn more about gastroenterologists' practices, opinions, and knowledge in this area.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 15 question survey was sent through email to two national gastroenterology distribution lists. Questions were written in multiple choice formats and were designed to collect information about gastroenterologists' practices, attitudes, and knowledge regarding smoking cessation in CD patients. Responses were stratified by practice setting, experience, and inflammatory bowel disease-focus. Responses were anonymous and were collected in a secure, online database.

RESULTS

A total of 141 respondents completed the survey. Overall, 89% of participants screened their CD patients for smoking more than 75% of the time. In all, 62% provided smoking cessation counseling more than 75% of the time. Overall, 94% of respondents felt comfortable discussing the benefits of smoking cessation with their patients. In all, 56% felt comfortable discussing smoking cessation strategies with their patients. Overall, 88% of respondents agreed that gastroenterologists should provide smoking cessation counseling; however, 43 and 11% agreed that the gastroenterologist should be the primary counselor and primary prescriber of cessation-related pharmacotherapy, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Surveyed gastroenterologists agree that smoking cessation is an important part of the care of CD patients and this is reflected in their screening practices. Counseling occurs irregularly and many gastroenterologists do not feel comfortable discussing cessation strategies. Future guidelines should provide further guidance on the gastroenterologist's role in smoking cessation counseling for CD patients.

Quality of care indicators in inflammatory bowel disease in a tertiary referral center with open access and objective assessment policies

BACKGROUND

In the management of inflammatory bowel diseases, there is considerable variation in quality of care.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate structural, access/process components and outcome quality indicators in our tertiary referral IBD center.

METHODS

In the first phase, structural/process components were assessed, followed by the second phase of formal evaluation of access and management on a set of consecutive IBD patients with and without active disease (248CD/125UC patients, median age 35/39 years).

RESULTS

Structural/process components of our IBD center met the international recommendations. At or around the time of diagnosis usual procedures were full colonoscopy in all patients, with ileocolonoscopy/gastroscopy/CT/MRI in 81.8/45.5/66.1/49.6% of CD patients. A total of 86.7% of CD patients had any follow-up imaging evaluation or endoscopy. The median waiting time for non-emergency endoscopy/CT/MRI was 16/14/22 days. During the observational period patients with flares (CD/UC:50.6/54.6%) were seen by specialist at the IBD clinic within a median of 1day with same day laboratory assessment, abdominal US, CT scan/surgical consult and change in therapy if needed. Surgery and hospitalization rates were 20.1/1.4% and 17.3/3.2% of CD/UC patients.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight that structural components and processes applied in our center are in line with international recommendations, including an open clinic concept and fast track access to specialist consultation, endoscopy and imaging.

Clinicians' adherence to international guidelines in the clinical care of adults with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Although evidence-based guidelines have been developed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the extent to which they are followed is unclear. The objective of this study was to review clinicians' adherence to international IBD guidelines.

METHODS

Retrospective data collection of patients attending a tertiary Australian hospital IBD clinic over a 12-month period. Management practices were audited and compared to ECCO (European Crohn's and Colitis Organization) guidelines.

RESULTS

Data from 288 patients were collected: 47% (136/288) male; mean age 43; 140/288 (49%) patients had ulcerative colitis (UC); 145/288 (50%) patients had Crohn's disease (CD); 3/288 (1%) patients had IBD-unclassified (IBD-U). Patient care was undertaken by gastroenterologists, trainees and general practitioners.

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Overall adherence to disease management guidelines occurred in 204/288 (71%) of patient encounters. Discrepancies between guidelines and management were found in: 25/80 (31%) of patients with UC in remission receiving oral 5-aminosalicyclates (5-ASAs) as maintenance therapy, and; 46/110 (42%) of patients with small bowel and/or ileo-cecal CD receiving 5-ASA. Preventive Care: Adherence to ≥1 additional component of preventive care was observed in 73/288 (25%) of patient encounters: 12/133 (9%) on thiopurines underwent annual skin checks; 61/288 (21%) of patients with IBD underwent a bone scan; 46/288 (16%) patients were reminded to have their influenza vaccine. Psychological care: Assessment of psychological wellbeing was undertaken in only 16/288 (6%) of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There remains a gap between adherence to international guidelines and clinical practice. Standardizing practice using evidence-based clinical pathways may be a strategy towards improving the quality of IBD outpatient management.

A survey-based analysis on endoscopic quality indicators compliance among Spanish endoscopists

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopy plays a key role for the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, quality indicators have been widely proposed in order to optimize endoscopic practice. The aims of this study, promoted by the Spanish Society of Digestive Diseases (SEPD), were to assess the knowledge and compliance to endoscopy quality indicators among Spanish gastroenterologists.

METHODS

A 31-questionnaire survey was created based on the endoscopy quality indicators proposed by international guidelines. The survey was distributed among Spanish gastroenterologists who are members of the society. Using only fully completed surveys, a descriptive analysis was performed. Those factors related with a suboptimal quality performance were also investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 1,543 surveys were sent and 281 (18.2%) were received completed. Based on the answers obtained, the management of 14 (70%) out of 20 assessed quality indicators was poor: 5 (83.3%) out of 6 pre-procedure items, 7 (58.3%) out of 12 intra-procedure items and 2 (100%) out of 2 post-procedure items.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of Spanish endoscopists do not comply with main endoscopic quality indicators. Factors such as "young" age, public setting, no colorectal cancer screening program and low volume of procedures/week are related to a poorer management of the assessed quality indicators and should be the target for future formative activities.

Changes in cardiac arrest patients' temperature management after the 2013 "TTM" trial: results from an international survey

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH between 32 and 34 °C) was recommended until recently in unconscious successfully resuscitated cardiac arrest (CA) patients, especially after initial shockable rhythm. A randomized controlled trial published in 2013 observed similar outcome between a 36 °C-targeted temperature management (TTM) and a 33 °C-TTM. The main aim of our study was to assess the impact of this publication on physicians regarding their TTM practical changes.

METHODS

A declarative survey was performed using the webmail database of the French Intensive Care Society including 3229 physicians (from May 2014 to January 2015).

RESULTS

Five hundred and eighteen respondents from 264 ICUs in 11 countries fulfilled the survey (16 %). A specific attention was generally paid by 94 % of respondents to TTM (hyperthermia avoidance, normothermia, or TH implementation) in CA patients, whereas 6 % did not. TH between 32 and 34 °C was declared as generally maintained during 12-24 h by 78 % of respondents or during 24-48 h by 19 %. Since the TTM trial publication, 56 % of respondents declared no modification of their TTM practice, whereas 37 % declared a practical target temperature change. The new temperature targets were 35-36 °C for 23 % of respondents, and 36 °C for 14 %. The duration of overall TTM (including TH and/or normothermia) was declared as applied between 12 and 24 h in 40 %, and between 24 and 48 h in 36 %. In univariate analysis, the physicians' TTM modification seemed related to hospital category (university versus non-university hospitals, P = 0.045), to TTM-specific attention paid in CA patients (P = 0.008), to TH durations (<12 versus 24-48 h, P = 0.01), and to new targets temperature (32-34 versus 35-36 °C, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The TTM trial publication has induced a modification of current practices in one-third of respondents, whereas the 32-34 °C target temperature remained unchanged for 56 %. Educational actions are needed to promote knowledge translations of trial results into clinical practice. New international guidelines may contribute to this effort.

Thromboembolic events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory condition, and is accompanied by abnormalities in coagulation and a hyper-coagulable state. This study was conducted to examine the risk factors for developing Thromboembolic Events in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in a population with prevalent consanguinity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with a definitive diagnosis of IBD who were seen in the gastroenterology clinic of King Khalid University Hospital (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) from 2010- to 2012, were asked to participate in this prospective cohort study, and were followed for one 1 year. Data was collected using specifically designed case report forms (CRF) by trained research personnel.

RESULTS

A total of 100 Saudi patients with IBD were studied. There were 51 (51%) women and the mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of the group was 31.24 ± 10.78 years. Those with Crohn's disease constituted 72% of the patients, and 28% had ulcerative colitis. Eight patients (8%) had at least one Thrombotic Event ([six deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and two pulmonary embolism (PE)]. Family history of deep venous thrombosis was present in 5%, and family history of pulmonary embolism (PE) in 4% of the patients. After adjusting for age and gender, a family history of Thrombotic event was identified as to be the only statistically significant predictor of thrombosis in IBD patients (RR = 9.22, 95% CI: 2.10--40.43).

CONCLUSION

In a population with high consanguinity, Thromboembolic events (DVT and PE) had a prevalence of 8% among IBD patients, positive family history of pulmonary embolism was a predictor of thrombosis. Further studies are needed to explore the role of genetic factors in this population.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding the Role of Nutrition in IBD Among Patients and Providers

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Identifying patients who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition may lead to early intervention and improve patient outcomes. To date, little is known about the role of nutritional assessment and management in IBD care. We aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding nutrition in IBD among patients and providers.

METHODS

Surveys were mailed electronically to patients and providers identified through their membership in the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. In addition, patient and provider focus groups were conducted to explore nutrition-related themes. These surveys and focus groups were designed to evaluate knowledge and perceived importance of nutrition, patient-provider interactions regarding nutrition and use of nutritional resources.

RESULTS

There were 223 provider respondents (65.5% gastroenterologists, 15.2% nurses, and 6.7% dietitians). Forty-one percent of the gastroenterologists rated their knowledge of nutrition in IBD as "very good" compared with 87% of dietitians and 16% of nurses (P < 0.001). Thirty-three percent of the gastroenterologists reported not routinely screening their IBD patients for malnutrition. The patient survey had 567 respondents with 27% rating their knowledge of nutrition in IBD as "very good." In the focus groups, a lack of adequate IBD nutritional resources was evident along with a desire for improved access to nutrition specialists.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant gaps in knowledge relating to nutrition in IBD seem to exist. Targeted educational initiatives and improved access to nutritional experts are warranted. In addition, a standardized process for the assessment of malnutrition among patients with IBD should be developed.

An Assessment of the AGA and CCFA Quality Indicators in a Sample of Patients Diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing disease characterized by activation of the mucosal immune system and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Management of IBD places a significant burden on the health care system because of the complexity of treatment, variability in patient outcomes, and chronic nature of the disease. 

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America's (CCFA) quality measurement sets in a sample of IBD patients.

METHODS

Fourteen quality measures were restated for application to a claims database and calculated using Optum Clinformatics DataMart database. Selected measures were calculated over calendar year 2011.

RESULTS

Performance measures ranged from 0.4% for AGA measure 9, prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism, to 66.9% for AGA measure 8, testing for Clostridium difficile. CCFA outcome measures ranged from 0.6% qualifying for CCFA O10, report of fecal incontinence, to 32.9% for CCFA O1, prednisone usage. In addition to Clostridium difficile testing, the use of appropriate corticosteroid-sparing therapy (51.1%) and testing for latent tuberculosis before initiating anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy (45.0%) were the highest achieved measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first examination of IBD quality measures using administrative claims. Rates of achievement across measures were variable and likely affected by the ability to calculate certain measures with claims data. Future studies should further examine measurement of IBD quality indicators in claims data to assess the validity of claims-based analyses and to ascertain whether measure attainment translates into better overall health or IBD-related outcomes.

Quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease in Asia: the results of a multinational web-based survey in the 2(nd) Asian Organization of Crohn's and Colitis (AOCC) meeting in Seoul

Background/Aims

The quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been systematically estimated. The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of quality of IBD care in Asian countries.

Methods

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted between March 2014 and May 2014. The questionnaire was adopted from "An adult inflammatory bowel disease physician performance measure set" developed by the American Gastroenterological Association. If the respondent executed the performance measure in more than 70% of patients, the measure was regarded as well performed.

Results

A total of 353 medical doctors from Asia completed the survey (116 from Korea, 114 from China, 88 from Japan, 17 from Taiwan, 8 from Hong-Kong, 4 from India, 3 from Singapore, and 1 each from the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia). The delivery of performance measures, however, varied among countries. The documentation of IBD and tuberculosis screening before anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy were consistently performed well, while pneumococcal immunization and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolisms in hospitalized patients were performed less frequently in all countries. Physician awareness was positively associated with the delivery of performance measures. Variations were also noted in reasons for non-performance or low performance of quality measures, and the two primary reasons cited were consideration of the measure to be unimportant and lack of time.

Conclusions

The delivery of performance measures varies among physicians in Asian countries, and reflects variations in the quality of care among the countries. This variation should be recognized to improve the quality of care in Asian countries.

Ulcerative Colitis Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in the Postoperative Period: The Results of a Matched Cohort Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during admission and within 30 days of hospital discharge in inflammatory bowel (IBD) patients undergoing colonic resection using the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) database and to compare these rates to VTE rates in cohorts of patients undergoing colonic resection for several other colonic pathologies.

BACKGROUND

High rates of VTE have been demonstrated in hospitalized IBD patients. However, rates of postdischarge VTE in IBD patients are understudied.

METHODS

Demographic, operative, and outcomes data for 96,999 patients undergoing colonic resection for diverticulitis, colorectal cancer (CRC), benign neoplasms, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD) between 2005 and 2011 was obtained. Student t and χ tests were used for univariate analysis. A logistic multivariate analysis was performed with all significant variables. Propensity score matching was utilized to compare the VTE incidences between the groups.

RESULTS

Highest VTE risk was seen in obese patients [odds ratio (OR) = 1.41], those older than 73 years (OR = 1.58) and with bleeding disorders (OR = 1.44), American Society of Anesthesiology class III/IV (OR = 1.52/1.86), preoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome (OR = 1.55), sepsis (OR = 1.48) or steroid use (OR = 1.63), and primary diagnosis of UC (OR = 2.10). The UC group had the highest incidence of VTE (2.74%), followed by CRC patients (1.74%). A 1.2% incidence was seen in the CD population, and 41.5% of the UC-VTEs were diagnosed after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

This study affirms that inpatient UC patients undergoing colonic resection are at high risk for VTE and suggests that this risk persists into the postdischarge period. Thus, these patients should be given appropriate prophylaxis.

Opportunities for Improvement in the Care of Patients Hospitalized for Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Related Colitis

BACKGROUND

Algorithms for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up have been proposed for patients hospitalized for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) colitis flare. The degree to which providers adhere to these algorithms is unknown. This study evaluated the quality of care in IBD patients hospitalized for disease-associated exacerbations and factors correlated with higher degrees of care.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 34 patients during 60 admissions to the medicine service for IBD colitis exacerbation between 2005 and 2012 at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Medical Center. Examined factors included laboratory testing, timing of consultation and intravenous steroids, abdominal imaging, endoscopic examination, venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, narcotic use, Clostridium difficile and cytomegalovirus testing, symptomatology at discharge, timing of follow-up, and rates of readmission and mortality.

RESULTS

Quality of care varied among the factors studied, ranging from 30.5 % for pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis to 84.7 % for gastroenterology consultation within 24 h. Of 60 admissions, 22 % were not tested for C. difficile. Fifteen percent of patients were discharged before meeting commonly used discharge criteria. Eighty percent were seen in clinic at any time post-discharge; 6.7 % were readmitted; 10 % were lost to follow-up; 1.7 % opted for outside follow-up; and 1.7 % expired.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of care for patients admitted with IBD colitis flares is variable. These data outline opportunities for improvement, particularly in regard to pain management, VTE prophylaxis, and follow-up. Further studies are needed to test intervention strategies for practice improvement.

Etiopathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Thromboembolism in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The close relationship between inflammation and thrombosis affects the progression and severity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) varies between 1% and 7% among patients with IBD. The VTE risk in patients with IBD is at least 3 times higher than that in the normal general population. The absolute risk is very high during hospitalization, active disease, and surgery. The IBD-related VTE occurs at younger ages and recurs more frequently. The development of thrombosis in IBD is due to the interaction of many hereditary and acquired risk factors. Each patient diagnosed with IBD should be evaluated for a personal and family history of thrombosis and for prothrombotic drug use. Although procoagulant factors are increased during the natural course of inflammation, natural anticoagulants and fibrinolytic activity are decreased. Although IBD is accepted as a prothrombotic condition, there is no treatment that can remove this risk from daily practice. Patient training is required to control important factors, such as long-term immobilization and smoking. Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy should be avoided. Inducing permanent disease remission must be the key approach for the prevention of thrombosis. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is the basis of prophylactic treatment, which reduces the thrombosis risk by 50%. Prophylaxis with LMWH should be administered to all patients with IBD hospitalized due to disease attack or surgery. Long-term or even life-long anticoagulation therapy should be planned if there is insufficient disease control, recurrent VTE attacks, positive thrombophilia tests, or thrombosis in vital veins.

Review article: the practical management of acute severe ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a life-threatening condition for which optimal management strategies remain ill-defined.

AIM

To review the evidence regarding the natural history, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of ASUC to inform an evidence-based approach to management.

METHODS

Relevant articles addressing the management of ASUC were identified from a search of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library and conference proceedings.

RESULTS

Of ASUC, 31-35% is steroid-refractory. Infliximab and ciclosporin salvage therapies have improved patient outcomes in randomised controlled trials. Short-term response rates (within 3 months) have ranged from 40% - 54% for ciclosporin and 46-83% for infliximab. Long-term clinical response rates (≥1 year) have ranged from 42%-50% for ciclosporin and 50-65% for infliximab. Short-term and long-term colectomy rates have been respectively: 26-47% and 36-58% for ciclosporin, and 0-50% and 35-50% for infliximab. Mortality rates for ciclosporin and infliximab-treated patients have been: 0-5% and 0-2%, respectively. At present, management challenges include the selection, timing and assessment of response to salvage therapy, utilisation of therapeutic drug monitoring and long-term maintenance of remission.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimal management of acute severe ulcerative colitis should be guided by risk stratification using predictive indices of corticosteroid response. Timely commencement and assessment of response to salvage therapy is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality. Emerging pharmacokinetic models and therapeutic drug monitoring may assist clinical decision-making and facilitate a shift towards individualised acute severe ulcerative colitis therapies.

Prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with IBD: a trail still climbing

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents one of the most common and life-threatening extraintestinal complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, the prevention of VTE is essential and foremost involves the assessment of individual patient risk factors for VTE and, consequently, the correction of those risk factors that are modifiable. Mechanical and pharmacological prophylaxis are highly effective at preventing VTE in patients hospitalized for acute disease, and they are recommended by the leading guidelines for hospitalized patients with IBD. Unfortunately, several recent surveys reported that prophylaxis against VTE is still poorly implemented because of concerns about its safety and a lack of awareness of the magnitude of thrombotic risk in patients with IBD. Therefore, further efforts are required to increase the thromboprophylaxis rate in these patients to bridge the gap between the best care and standard care and, consequently, to avoid preventable VTE-associated morbidity and mortality. This review provides insight on the critical points that persist on the prevention and treatment of VTE in patients with IBD.

[Prevention and treatment of thromboembolism in patients with inflammatory bowel disease]

Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder that mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract, extraintestinal complications can occur in IBD patients. Among many extraintestinal complications, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is particularly a feared complication due to its significant morbidity and mortality. IBD patients have about 2 to 3 fold higher risk of developing VTE compared with the general population, and the current management guidelines for IBD patients propose recommendations for the prevention of VTE. This review aims to summarize clinical characteristics of VTE in IBD patients and to outline strategies for preventing and treating VTE in these patients.

Acceptance of inflammatory bowel disease treatment recommendations based on appropriateness ratings: do practicing gastroenterologists agree with experts?

BACKGROUND

Appropriateness criteria for the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) have been developed by expert panels. Little is known about the acceptance of such recommendations by care providers. The aim was to explore how treatment decisions of practicing gastroenterologists differ from those of experts, using a vignette case study and a focus group.

METHODS

Seventeen clinical vignettes were drawn from clinical indications evaluated by the expert panel. A vignette case questionnaire asking for treatment options in 9 or 10 clinical situations was submitted to 26 practicing gastroenterologists. For each vignette case, practitioners’ answers on treatments deemed appropriate were compared with panel decisions. Qualitative analysis was performed on focus group discussion to explore acceptance and divergence reasons.

RESULTS

Two hundred thirty-nine clinical vignettes were completed, 98 for CD and 141 for UC.Divergence between proposed treatments and panel recommendations was more frequent for CD (34%) than for UC (27%). Among UC clinical vignettes, the main divergences with the panel were linked to 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) failure assessment and to situations in which stopping treatment was the main decision. For CD, the propositions of care providers diverged from the panel in mild to moderate active disease, for which practitioners were more prone to an accelerated step-up than the panel’s recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

In about one-third of vignette cases, inflammatory bowel disease treatment propositions made by practicing gastroenterologists diverged from expert recommendations. Practicing gastroenterologists may experience difficulty in applying recommendations in daily practice.

Colectomy is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism in ulcerative colitis

AIM: To compare venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who respond to medical management to patients requiring colectomy.

METHODS: Population-based surveillance from 1997 to 2009 was used to identify all adults admitted to hospital for a flare of UC and those patients who underwent colectomy. All medical charts were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and extract clinically relevant information. UC patients were stratified by: (1) responsive to inpatient medical therapy (n = 382); (2) medically refractory requiring emergent colectomy (n = 309); and (3) elective colectomy (n = 329). The primary outcome was the development of VTE during hospitalization or within 6 mo of discharge. Heparin prophylaxis to prevent VTE was assessed. Logistic regression analysis determined the effect of disease course (i.e., responsive to medical therapy, medically refractory, and elective colectomy) on VTE after adjusting for confounders including age, sex, smoking, disease activity, comorbidities, extent of disease, and IBD medications (i.e., corticosteroids, mesalamine, azathioprine, and infliximab). Point estimates were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95%CI.

RESULTS: The prevalence of VTE among patients with UC who responded to medical therapy was 1.3% and only 16% of these patients received heparin prophylaxis. In contrast, VTE was higher among patients who underwent an emergent (8.7%) and elective (4.9%) colectomy, despite greater than 90% of patients receiving postoperative heparin prophylaxis. The most common site of VTE was intra-abdominal (45.8%) followed by lower extremity (19.6%). VTE was diagnosed after discharge from hospital in 16.7% of cases. Elective (adjusted OR = 3.69; 95%CI: 1.30-10.44) and emergent colectomy (adjusted OR = 5.28; 95%CI: 1.93-14.45) were significant risk factors for VTE as compared to medically responsive UC patients. Furthermore, the odds of a VTE significantly increased across time (adjusted OR = 1.10; 95%CI: 1.01-1.20). Age, sex, comorbidities, disease extent, disease activity, smoking, corticosteroids, mesalamine, azathioprine, and infliximab were not independently associated with the development of VTE.

CONCLUSION: VTE was associated with colectomy, particularly, among UC patients who failed medical management. VTE prophylaxis may not be sufficient to prevent VTE in patients undergoing colectomy.

Thromboprophylaxis is associated with reduced post-hospitalization venous thromboembolic events in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE); those who require hospitalization have particularly high risk. Few hospitalized patients with IBD receive thromboprophylaxis. We analyzed the frequency of VTE after IBD-related hospitalization, risk factors for post-hospitalization VTE, and the efficacy of prophylaxis in preventing post-hospitalization VTE.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, we analyzed data from a multi-institutional cohort of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and at least 1 IBD-related hospitalization. Our primary outcome was a VTE event. All patients contributed person-time from the date of the index hospitalization to development of VTE, subsequent hospitalization, or end of follow-up. Our main predictor variable was pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for potential confounders were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

From a cohort of 2788 patients with at least 1 IBD-related hospitalization, 62 patients developed VTE after discharge (2%). Incidences of VTE at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after the index hospitalization were 3.7/1000, 4.1/1000, 5.4/1000, and 9.4/1000 person-days, respectively. Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis during the index hospital stay was associated with a significantly lower risk of post-hospitalization VTE (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22-0.97). Increased numbers of comorbidities (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.16-1.47) and need for corticosteroids before hospitalization (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.02-2.87) were also independently associated with risk of VTE. Length of hospitalization or surgery during index hospitalization was not associated with post-hospitalization VTE.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis during IBD-related hospitalization is associated with reduced risk of post-hospitalization VTE.

Improving quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease: what changes can be made today?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There are a number of gaps in our current quality of care for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. This review proposes changes that could be made now to improve inflammatory bowel disease care.

METHODS

Evidence from the literature and clinical experience are presented that illustrate best practice for improving current quality of care of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

RESULTS

Best care for inflammatory bowel disease patients will involve services provided by a multidisciplinary team, ideally delivered at a centre of excellence and founded on current guidelines. Dedicated telephone support lines, virtual clinics and networking may also provide models through which to deliver high-quality, expert integrated patient care. Improved physician-patient collaboration may improve treatment adherence, producing tangible improvements in disease outcomes, and may also allow patients to better understand the benefits and risks of a disease management plan. Coaching programmes and tools that improve patient self-management and empowerment are likely to be supported by payers if these can be shown to reduce long-term disability.

CONCLUSIONS

Halting disease progression before there is widespread bowel damage and disability are ideal goals of inflammatory bowel disease management. Improving patient-physician communication and supporting patients in their understanding of the evidence base are vital for ensuring patient commitment and involvement in the long-term management of their condition. Furthermore, there is a need to create more centres of excellence and to develop inflammatory bowel disease networks to ensure a consistent level of care across different settings.

Thromboembolic events and cardiovascular mortality in inflammatory bowel diseases: a meta-analysis of observational studies

OBJECTIVE

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of having venous thromboembolism. The magnitude of this risk has yet to be determined. The question of whether IBD patients have an increased risk of arterial thromboembolism and cardiovascular (CV) mortality remains controversial.

DESIGN

We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and international conference abstracts and included all controlled observational studies that evaluated the incidence of venous and/or arterial thromboembolic events (TE) and CV mortality in adult IBD.

RESULTS

33 studies enrolling 207,814 IBD patients and 5,774,898 controls and capturing 3,253,639 hospitalizations of IBD patients and 936,411,223 hospitalizations of controls reported a risk of arterial and/or venous TE or CV mortality were included. The risk of venous TE was increased in IBD patients compared to the general population (RR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.67-2.30) contrary to the risk of arterial TE (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.91-1.45). There was an increased risk of deep venous thrombosis (RR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.78-3.30), pulmonary embolism (RR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.95-3.28), ischemic heart disease (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.19-1.52) and mesenteric ischemia (RR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.78-6.71). Differences in methodology were great between studies resulting in a significant heterogeneity in all previous analysis. CV mortality in IBD patients was not increased compared to the general population (SMR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.93-1.14).

CONCLUSION

The risk of TE is increased in patients with IBD. This difference is mainly due to an increased risk of venous TE. There is no increased risk of arterial TE or CV mortality in IBD patients, but an increased risk of both ischemic heart disease and mesenteric ischemia.