How Does the Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Differ between East and West? A Korean Perspective

Sex and age differences in inflammatory bowel disease patients; a nationwide study based on Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC)

BACKGROUND

Despite the rising prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), age and sex differences in its outcomes remain understudied. We investigated age and sex differences in IBD patients using a nationwide study in Iran, the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC).

METHODS

The IRCC is a national registry that gathered information on adult IBD patients since 2017. The collected data included demographic information, medication history, disease activity, comorbidities, diagnosis age, prognosis, the extent of ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD) location, and extraintestinal manifestations. The statistical methods included the independent Student's t-test, Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression, using R version 4.2.2.

RESULTS

Among the 9,392 IBD patients, 7,496 (3,600 females) and 1,896 (808 females) had UC and CD, respectively. Sex difference showed higher odds of active disease in the past six months in male CD patients (OR 1.24 [95%CI 1.03, 1.49]) vs. females, but in male UC patients, the OR was 0.85 [0.78, 0.93]. Severe disease was less likely in CD patients aged 19-59 and >60 vs. <18. Similarly, UC patients <18 had lower odds of severe disease vs. those aged 19-59 and >60.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes the importance of understanding age and sex differences in IBD outcomes. These findings contribute to the ongoing global discussion on IBD management and facilitate the development of targeted interventions and personalized care.

Differential Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Based on Race and Immigration Status

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing globally. In this context, identifying risk factors for severe disease is important. We examined how race/ethnicity and immigration status influence IBD manifestations, treatments, and outcomes in a diverse, tertiary-care safety-net hospital.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center retrospective review of all IBD inpatients and outpatients treated from 1997-2017. Using logistic regression modeling, we compared disease onset, treatment, and outcomes by race (White, Black, Hispanic, or Asian) and immigration status (US-born vs foreign-born).

RESULTS

A total of 577 patients were identified, of which 29.8% were White, 27.4% were Hispanic, 21.7% were Black, and 13.0% were Asian. Compared to Whites, Asians were more likely to be male (odds ratio [OR] 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45, 5.00), whereas Blacks were more likely to be diagnosed with Crohn's disease (OR 1.75, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.77) and more likely to undergo IBD-related intestinal resection (OR 2.49, 95% CI: 1.40, 4.50). Compared to US-born patients, foreign-born patients were more likely to be diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (OR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.02). They were also less likely to be diagnosed before 16 years of age (OR 0.19, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.41), to have undergone intestinal resections (OR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.83), to have received biologics (OR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.76), or to have had dermatologic manifestations (OR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.41).

CONCLUSION

IBD phenotype varies by race, although foreign-born patients of all races show evidence of later-onset and milder disease. These findings may aid in disease prognostication and clinical management and, furthermore, may provide insight into intrinsic and environmental influences on IBD pathogenesis.

Thirty-year Trend in Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Jeju Island, South Korea

Background/Aims

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasing in South Korea. On the other hand, there are no reports of the incidence and prevalence of IBD specific to Jeju Island, prompting the necessity of this study.

Methods

In this retrospective design, the medical records of 453 patients diagnosed with IBD at Jeju National University Hospital from January 1990 to December 2019 were analyzed.

Results

Of the 453 IBD subjects (165 CD, 288 UC) included, the UC: CD ratio was 1.75:1. The incidence of IBD increased continuously from 0.19/105 in 1990 to 6.39/105 in 2017 and after that decreased to 4.92/105 in 2019. The male:female ratio was 2.24:1 for CD and 1.29:1 for UC. In the CD subjects, the disease activity included remission (33.3%), mild (25.5%), moderate (30.9%), and severe (6.1%). In UC subjects, the disease activity included remission (24.0%), mild (35.4%), moderate (28.8%), and severe (6.2%). According to the Montreal classification, the cases were as follows: CD: terminal ileum (22.4%), colon (9.7%), ileocolon (66.1%), and upper gastrointestinal involvement (27.3%), and perianal fistula/abscess was present in 43.6% of subjects before or at diagnosis: UC: proctitis (43.4%), left-sided colitis (29.1%), and pancolitis (23.3%) at diagnosis.

Conclusions

The incidence of IBD on Jeju Island has increased steadily for approximately 30 years but has exhibited a decline since 2017. Therefore, the incidence of IBD in Jeju is believed to have plateaued. Further study will be needed for clarification.

Insight into gut dysbiosis of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and ischemic colitis

The collection of whole microbial communities (bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses) together constitutes the gut microbiome. Diet, age, stress, host genetics, and diseases cause increases or decreases in the relative abundance and diversity of bacterial species (dysbiosis). We aimed to investigate the gut microbial composition at different taxonomic levels of healthy controls (HCs) with active Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and ischemic colitis (IC) using culture- and non-culture-based approaches and identify biomarkers to discriminate CD, UC, or IC. We determined the specific changes in the gut microbial profile using culture-independent (16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) as well as culture-based (culturomic) approaches. Biomarkers were validated using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR). In both methods, bacterial diversity and species richness decreased in disease-associated conditions compared with that in HCs. Highly reduced abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Prevotella sp. and an increased abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli in all CD, UC, or IC conditions were observed. We noted a high abundance of Latilactobacillus sakei in CD patients; Ligilactobacillus ruminis in UC patients; and Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis in IC patients. Highly reduced abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in all cases, and increased abundance of Latilactobacillus sakei and Enterococcus faecium in CD, Ligilactobacillus ruminis and Enterococcus faecium in UC, and Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis in IC could be biomarkers for CD, UC, and IC, respectively. These biomarkers may help in IBD (CD or UC) and IC diagnosis.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab induction therapy for Korean patients with Crohn's disease: a KASID prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

We investigated the real-world effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab (UST) as induction treatment for Koreans with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

CD patients who started UST were prospectively enrolled from 4 hospitals in Korea. All enrolled patients received intravenous UST infusion at week 0 and subcutaneous UST injection at week 8. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores at weeks 8 and 20 among patients with active disease (CDAI ≥150) at baseline. Clinical remission was defined as a CDAI <150, and clinical response was defined as a reduction in CDAI ≥70 points from baseline. Safety and factors associated with clinical remission at week 20 were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients were enrolled between January 2019 and December 2020. Among 49 patients with active disease at baseline (CDAI ≥150), clinical remission and clinical response at week 8 were achieved in 26 (53.1%) and 30 (61.2%) patients, respectively. At week 20, 27 (55.1%) and 35 (71.4%) patients achieved clinical remission and clinical response, respectively. Twenty-seven patients (41.5%) experienced adverse events, with serious adverse events in 3 patients (4.6%). One patient (1.5%) stopped UST therapy due to poor response. Underweight (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2) (odds ratio [OR], 0.085; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.014-0.498; P=0.006) and elevated C-reactive protein at baseline (OR, 0.133; 95% CI, 0.022-0.823; P=0.030) were inversely associated with clinical remission at week 20.

CONCLUSIONS

UST was effective and well-tolerated as induction therapy for Korean patients with CD.

Characteristics of adult patients newly diagnosed with Crohn's disease: interim analysis of the nation-wide inception cohort registry study of patients with Crohn's disease in Japan (iCREST-CD)

BACKGROUND

The Inception Cohort Registry Study of Patients with Crohn's Disease aimed to clarify clinical characteristics and disease course of newly diagnosed Crohn's disease patients in Japan throughout a 4-year period. Results from an interim analysis of the largest nation-wide registry study that covers approximately 1% of Crohn's disease patient population in Japan are reported.

METHODS

This prospective, observational registry study was conducted at 19 tertiary centers in Japan. Patients newly diagnosed with Crohn's disease after June 2016 (age ≥ 16 years at informed consent) were enrolled between December 17, 2018 and June 30, 2020. Patient demographics, diagnostic procedures and categories, disease location and lesion behavior (Montreal classification) at the time of diagnosis were recorded.

RESULTS

Of 673 patients enrolled, 672 (99.9%) were analyzed (458: men, 214: women), male-to-female ratio: 2.1, median age at diagnosis 25 (range 13-86) years; peak age of disease diagnosis: 20-24 years. Most common disease location was L3 (ileocolonic; 60.1%). Non-stricturing, non-penetrating (B1) disease was most common behavior (62.8%); 48.9% reported perianal lesions. Notably, age-wise analysis revealed disease phenotypes varied between patients aged < 40 and ≥ 40 years in terms of male-to-female ratio (2.5/1.3)/disease location (L3: 66.3%/37.0%)/disease behavior (B1: 66.4%/50.0%)/perianal lesion: (55.7%/20.5%) at Crohn's disease diagnosis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Interim analysis of this nation-wide Inception Cohort Registry Study of Patients with Crohn's Disease revealed the demographics and disease characteristics of newly diagnosed Crohn's disease patients in Japan and demonstrated that disease phenotype varied between patients aged < 40 and ≥ 40 years, serving as important information for management of individual patients.

Comparison of 1-Year Colectomy Risk Between the US and Korean Patients with Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

BACKGROUND

Colectomy risk after acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) has not been compared between Eastern and Western countries. We compared the 1-year colectomy risk after ASUC between Korea and the USA.

METHODS

Data on patients admitted for ASUC to five tertiary referral hospitals in Korea and Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, the USA, between January 2015 and January 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. For comparability between groups, a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. The primary outcome was colectomy, and secondary outcomes were mortality, readmission, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) within 1-year of the index admission for ASUC. The risk of each outcome was compared using Cox proportional hazards model in pre-matched cohort and Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test in post-matched cohort.

RESULTS

290 ASUC patients were included in the study (121 Korea, 169 the USA). After PSM, 56 patients were selected in each group with no significant differences in baseline variables. At 1 year after ASUC, colectomy was less common in Korea than in the USA [3 (5.4%) vs. 24 (42.9%), p < 0.001]. The cumulative colectomy risk was significantly higher in the USA than in Korea in pre-matched cohort [adjusted hazard ratio 7.89, 95% confidence interval 3.23 to 19.22] and in post-matched cohort (log-rank p < 0.001), while there was no difference in cumulative risk of mortality, readmission, and VTE.

CONCLUSION

Colectomy risk within 1 year of ASUC is significantly higher in the USA than in Korea. We observed no differences in mortality, readmission, and VTE between the two groups.

Update on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Asia: where are we now?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become a global disease. As IBD is a chronic disease that can result in remarkable morbidity and disability, estimation and understanding the disease burden of IBD is imperative to prepare adequate health care systems. However, variations in IBD incidence or prevalence may reflect differences in the distribution, and there are regional disparities in Asia with a large population of approximately 4.6 billion in 2020, which is equivalent to 60% of the total world population. Although comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of IBD in Asian countries is difficult, this review includes updated data regarding the incidence and prevalence of IBD and the estimated disease burden in Asia.

What Are the Different Phenotypes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Asia?

The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asia has been increasing over the past decades. Although patients with IBD show heterogenous phenotypes depending on the individual characteristics, no significant differences have been established in the IBD phenotypes of Western and Asian populations. However, despite the much lower incidence of IBD in Asia than in Western countries, the incidence has been rapidly increasing in Asia while remaining stable in Western countries. The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) showed an earlier and a more marked increase than the incidence of Crohn disease (CD), but the UC-to-CD ratio has recently decreased because of a relative increase in the incidence of CD in Asia. While CD shows a significant male predominance, UC only shows a slight male predominance. A recent study reported that the incidence of IBD in Asia showed a bimodal age distribution with increasing IBD prevalence, similar to the findings of Western studies. CD in Asian patients, especially those in East Asia, is characterized by ileocolonic involvement and perianal fistula. The frequency of extraintestinal manifestations, including primary sclerosing cholangitis, appears to be lower in Asia, but this finding should be interpreted with caution due to the transient and nonspecific nature of these manifestations. Although familial aggregation is lower in East Asia, it may also be explained by the low prevalence of IBD in Asia. Thus, more studies should focus on the differences in phenotypes in Asian IBD patients versus Western patients.

Incident Crohn's Disease as a Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer in the First 10 Years after Diagnosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

We investigated the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) using the claims data of the Korean National Health Insurance during 2006-2015. The data of 13,739 and 40,495 individuals with and without CD, respectively, were analyzed. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression tests. CRC developed in 25 patients (0.18%) and 42 patients (0.1%) of the CD and non-CD groups, respectively. The HR of CRC in the CD group was 2.07 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25-3.41). The HRs of CRC among men and women were 2.02 (95% CI 1.06-3.87) and 2.10 (95% CI, 0.96-4.62), respectively. The HRs of CRC in the age groups 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, and ≥60 years were 0.07, 4.86, 2.32, and 0.66, respectively. The HR of patients with late-onset CD (≥40 years) was significantly higher than that of those with early-onset CD (<40 years). CD patients were highly likely to develop CRC. Early-onset CD patients were significantly associated with an increased risk of CRC than matched individuals without CD. However, among CD patients, late-onset CD was significantly associated with an increased risk of CRC.

Epidemiology and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases

Background: Over the past three decades, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been rapidly increasing in the African, South American, and Asian countries, including Korea. However, in Korea, the public awareness of IBD remains low, and diagnostic delay is not uncommon due to the physicians' lack of clinical experience. It is essential to understand the trends and regional differences in the epidemiology of IBD for proper diagnosis and treatment.Current Concepts: Although lower than those of the West, the prevalence and incidence of IBD in Korea rank among the highest in Asia and are steadily increasing. In the past 10 years, the prevalence of IBD has almost doubled, while its incidence has decreased gradually. As compared to Western IBD patients, Korean patients have higher proportion of proctitis in ulcerative colitis, male predominance, more ileocolonic involvement, and higher incidence of perianal fistula in Crohn disease. There is no single gold standard for the diagnosis of IBD. Thus, diagnosis can be made by clinical evaluation, including a detailed history taking, physical examination, and a combination of endoscopic, radiologic, laboratory, and histologic findings.Discussion and Conclusion: Population-based studies have revealed the current trends and characteristics of the epidemiology of IBD in Korea. Continued education and development of diagnostic tools will help clinicians to diagnose IBD accurately and differentiate it from other diseases such as intestinal tuberculosis.

Comparison of outcomes of cyclosporine A and infliximab for steroid-refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Data comparing the outcomes of cyclosporin A (CsA) and infliximab (IFX) as rescue therapy for steroid-refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis (SR-ASUC) among Asians are scarce.

METHODS

In this single-center study, we retrospectively reviewed 121 patients with SR-ASUC according to the Truelove and Witts' criteria who received CsA or IFX as rescue therapy between 1995 and 2015. The cumulative rates of treatment failure and colectomy at 3 months were compared. Treatment failure was defined as colectomy, switch to other medications, acute flare-up events requiring steroid treatment, or adverse events leading to drug interruption.

RESULTS

Among 121 patients with SR-ASUC (male, 55.6%; median disease duration, 47.1 months; extensive colitis, 61.2%), 23 received CsA as rescue therapy. Baseline characteristics (e.g. age at diagnosis, sex, disease duration, disease extent at rescue therapy, and Mayo score at treatment initiation) were comparable between the two groups. During follow-up (median, 45 months; interquartile range 29.3-61.8), 84 patients (69.4%) experienced treatment failure, and 25 patients (20.7%) underwent colectomy. The CsA group and the IFX group did not show significant differences in the cumulative rates of treatment failure (39.1% vs 34.7%, P = 0.714) and colectomy (26.1% vs 13.3%, P = 0.198) at 3 months. Previous use of azathioprine (odds ratio [OR] = 2.309, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.076-4.951, P = 0.032) was associated with treatment failure at 3 months. Mayo score > 10 at the time of rescue therapy was significantly associated with colectomy at 3 months (OR = 8.444, 95% CI = 2.592-27.506, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Among Korean patients with SR-ASUC, the rates of treatment failure and colectomy at 3 months were not significantly different between the CSA and the IFX treatment groups.

Changes in the Long-term Prognosis of Crohn's Disease between 1986 and 2015: The Population-Based Songpa-Kangdong Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study

Background/Aims

The long-term course of Crohn’s disease (CD) has never been evaluated in non-Caucasian population-based cohorts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of Korean CD patients in the well-defined population-based Songpa-Kangdong inflammatory bowel disease cohort.

Methods

Outcomes of disease and their predictors were evaluated for 418 patients diagnosed with CD between 1986 and 2015.

Results

During a median of 123 months, systemic corticosteroids, thiopurines, and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents were administered to 58.6%, 81.3%, and 37.1% of patients, respectively. Over time, the cumulative probability of starting corticosteroids significantly decreased (p=0.001), whereas that of starting thiopurines and anti-TNFs significantly increased (both p<0.001). The cumulative probability of behavioral progression was 54.5% at 20 years, and it significantly decreased during the anti-TNF era. Intestinal resection was required for 113 patients (27.0%). The cumulative probabilities of intestinal resection at 1, 5, 10, 20, and 25 years after CD diagnosis were 12.7%, 16.5%, 23.8%, 45.1%, and 51.2%, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified stricturing behavior at diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55 to 4.71), penetrating behavior at diagnosis (aHR, 11.15; 95% CI, 6.91 to 17.97), and diagnosis of CD during the anti-TNF era (aHR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.76) as independently associated with intestinal resection. The standardized mortality ratio among CD patients was 1.36 (95% CI, 0.59 to 2.68).

Conclusions

The long-term prognosis of Korean patients with CD is at least as good as that of Western CD patients, as indicated by the low intestinal resection rate. Moreover, behavioral progression and intestinal resection rates have decreased over the past 3 decades.

Clinical outcomes and long-term prognosis of perianal Crohn's disease in an Asian population

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The clinical impact of perianal Crohn's disease (CD) (pCD), a well-known poor prognostic factor of CD, has not been fully evaluated in Asian patients. We investigated the outcomes of CD in Korean patients according to the presence of pCD at CD diagnosis.

METHODS

Using 2010-2014 data from the national health insurance claims database, we evaluated the disease course of CD according to the presence of pCD at CD diagnosis. The results were verified in a hospital-based cohort of 2923 patients.

RESULTS

The cumulative risk of intestinal resection was lower in patients with pCD at diagnosis than in those without, in the population-based cohort (9.1% vs 14.7% at 5 years after diagnosis, P < 0.001), but it was similar between the two groups in the hospital-based cohort (36.8% vs 36.8% at 10 years after diagnosis, P = 0.950). Moreover, the cumulative risk of behavioral progression was not significantly different between the two groups in the hospital-based cohort (43.4% vs 41.6% at 10 years after diagnosis, P = 0.366). On multivariable analysis, pCD at CD diagnosis was not a predictor of intestinal resection, behavioral progression, CD-related hospital admission, or diverting surgery; however, it was an independent predictor of proctectomy (hazard ratio [HR] 3.210, P < 0.001) and anorectal cancer (HR 3.104, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the presence of pCD increased the risk of proctectomy and anorectal cancer in Asian patients, the clinical impact of pCD on the overall outcomes of patients with CD may be less significant in Asian patients compared with Western patients.

[Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Elderly Patients - What Are Different and What Should We Know?]

As the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasing with an ageing population, the incidence and prevalence of IBD in the elderly continue to increase. Older IBD patients can be classified into two groups; elderly-onset IBD patients and elderly IBD patients who were diagnosed at a young age and transitioning into advanced age. Clinicians must consider elderly-onset specific phenotypes or prognosis and age-related concerns in the treatment of elderly IBD patients. There is a paucity of evidence whether there is a different disease process when IBD occurs in older age yet. Clinicians may expect similar therapeutic effects in older and younger patients in drug selection, but since older patients are often excluded from clinical trials, evidence to support this assumption is currently lacking. Also, the risk of side effects may be higher in elderly patients. Therefore, when making management decisions in the elderly, clinicians should assess an individual's frailty rather than only considering an individual's chronological and biological age. Knowing specific requirements for managing older IBD patients may help to make an appropriate therapeutic strategy for this patient group.

Disease burden of inflammatory bowel disease in China from 1990 to 2017: Findings from the global burden of diseases 2017

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive evaluation of the burden of inflammation bowel disease (IBD) is important for identifying potential strategies to control the disease. We present results from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2017 of IBD at the national level, the trends in disease burden and its epidemiological features in China.

METHODS

Using the methods and results from GBD 2017, we describe the IBD burden based on the prevalence, incidence, mortality, years of lost (YLLs), the years of life lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in China estimated using DisMod-MR 2·1. We additionally evaluated the rate of DALYs at national locations in 2017.

FINDINGS

From 1990 to 2017, the cases, deaths, YLLs, YLDs and DALYs for IBD in China were from 1,047,991 to 2,665,081, from 5701 to 5198, from 188,814 to 107,373, from 157,581 to 394,887, from 346,396 to 502,260, respectively. Increasing trends were observed in prevalence (APC: 2·9%), incidence (APC: 1·1%), DALYs (APC: 0·8%) and YLDs (APC:2·9%). There were decreasing trends in mortality (APC: -1·0%) and YLLs (APC: -2·7%). As to the age-standardized rates of DALYs, it observed a decreasing trend (APC: -0·78%). Similar trends were observed in men and women. The age-standardized APCs in incidence, mortality and rate of YLLs among women were higher than those among men. The age-standardized rate of DALYs was 27·51 per 100,000 in 2017.

INTERPRETATION

Between 1990 and 2017, China experienced a decrease in the age-standardized DALYs, mortality rates and YLLs due to IBD, despite an increase in the age-standardized rate of prevalence, incidence and YLDs. China is still one of the low endemic areas.

FUNDING

This work had no supporting funding.

Long-term prognosis of ulcerative colitis and its temporal changes between 1986 and 2015 in a population-based cohort in the Songpa-Kangdong district of Seoul, Korea

OBJECTIVE

No population-based study has evaluated the natural course of UC over three decades in non-Caucasians. We aimed to assess the long-term natural course of Korean patients with UC in a population-based cohort.

DESIGN

This Korean population-based, Songpa-Kangdong IBD cohort included all patients (n=1013) newly diagnosed with UC during 1986-2015. Disease outcomes and their predictors were evaluated.

RESULTS

During the median follow-up of 105 months, the overall use of systemic corticosteroids, thiopurines and antitumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents was 40.8%, 13.9% and 6.5%, respectively. Over time, the cumulative risk of commencing corticosteroids decreased, whereas that of commencing thiopurines and anti-TNF agents increased. During follow-up, 28.7% of 778 patients with proctitis or left-sided colitis at diagnosis experienced proximal disease extension. A total of 28 patients (2.8%) underwent colectomy, demonstrating cumulative risks of colectomy at 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 years after diagnosis of 1.0%, 1.9%, 2.2%, 5.1% and 6.4%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that extensive colitis at diagnosis (HR 8.249, 95% CI 2.394 to 28.430), ever use of corticosteroids (HR 6.437, 95% CI 1.440 to 28.773) and diagnosis in the anti-TNF era (HR 0.224, 95% CI 0.057 to 0.886) were independent predictors of colectomy. The standardised mortality ratio in patients with UC was 0.725 (95% CI 0.508 to 1.004).

CONCLUSION

Korean patients with UC may have a better clinical course than Western patients, as indicated by a lower colectomy rate. The overall colectomy rate has continued to decrease over the past three decades.

The relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and Helicobacter pylori across East Asian, European and Mediterranean countries: a meta-analysis

Background

The current literature suggests a protective benefit of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here we assessed whether this effect varied by IBD subtype—Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC)—and geographic region: East Asia, Europe (non-Mediterranean) or Mediterranean region.

Methods

A database search was performed up to July 2019 inclusive for all studies that compared H. pylori infection in IBD patients vs. non-IBD controls. The relative risk (RR) was used to quantify the association between IBD and H. pylori, and the effects were combined across studies using a mixed-effects meta-regression model, which included IBD subtype and geographic region as categorical moderator variables.

Results

Our meta-regression model exhibited moderate heterogeneity (I²=48.74%). Pooled RR depended on both region (P=0.02) and subtype (P<0.001). Pooled RRs were <1 for all subtype and region combinations, indicative of a protective effect of H. pylori against IBD. The pooled RR was 28% (9%, 50%; P=0.001) greater for UC vs. CD and 43% (4%, 96%; P=0.02) greater for Mediterranean countries vs. East Asia. The pooled RR was 18% (-13%, 60%; P=0.48) greater for Europe vs. East Asia and 21% (-13%, 68%; P=0.42) greater for Mediterranean vs. Europe, though these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

The protective effect of H. pylori on IBD varied by both subtype (more protection against CD vs. UC) and region (East Asia more protected than Mediterranean regions). Variation due to these effects could provide insight into IBD etiology.

Fecal lactoferrin accurately reflects mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Studies have demonstrated a potential role for fecal biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin (FC) and fecal lactoferrin (FL) in monitoring inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) - Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, their correlation to endoscopic scores, disease severity and affected intestinal surface has not been extensively investigated.

AIM

To correlate FL, and for comparison white blood cell (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP), with endoscopic scores, disease extent and location in CD and UC.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis in 188 patients who had FL, CRP and WBC determined within 30 d of endoscopy. Disease location, disease extent (number of intestinal segments involved), disease severity (determined by endoscopic scores), timing of FL testing in relation to colonoscopy, as well as the use of effective fast acting medications (steroids and biologics) between colonoscopy and FL measurement, were recorded.

RESULTS

In 131 CD and 57 UC patients, both CRP and FL - but not WBC - distinguished disease severity (inactive, mild, moderate, severe). In patients receiving fast-acting (steroids or biologics) treatment in between FL and colonoscopy, FL showed a higher correlation to endoscopic scores when tested before vs after the procedure (r = 0.596, P < 0.001, vs r = 0.285, P = 0.15 for the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD; and r = 0.402, P = 0.01 vs r = 0.054 P = 0.84 for Disease Activity Index). Finally, FL was significantly correlated with the diseased mucosal surface (colon-ileocolon > small bowel) and the number of inflamed colon segments.

CONCLUSION

FL and CRP separated disease severity categories with FL showing lower discriminating P-values. FL showed a close correlation with the involved mucosal surface and with disease extent and was more closely correlated to endoscopy when determined before the procedure – this indicating that inflammatory activity changes associated with therapy might be rapidly reflected by FL levels. FL can accurately and timely characterize intestinal inflammation in IBD.

A 30-year Trend Analysis in the Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Songpa-Kangdong District of Seoul, Korea in 1986-2015

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is increasing in Asia, data on long-term epidemiological trends are limited. We performed a 30-year longitudinal study to investigate temporal trends in the epidemiology of Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC] in Seoul, Korea.

METHODS

This population-based study included 1431 IBD patients [418 CD, 1013 UC] diagnosed between 1986 and 2015 in the Songpa-Kangdong district of Seoul, Korea. Temporal trends in incidence, prevalence, and disease phenotype at diagnosis were analysed.

RESULTS

The adjusted mean annual incidence rates of CD and UC per 100 000 inhabitants increased from 0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05-0.07) and 0.29 [95% CI, 0.27-0.31], respectively, in 1986-1990 to 2.44 [95% CI, 2.38-2.50] and 5.82 [95% CI, 5.73-5.92], respectively, in 2011-2015. Average annual percentage change in IBD incidence was 12.3% in 1986-1995, 12.3% in 1996-2005, and 3.3% in 2006-2015. The male-to-female ratio of the adjusted incidence rate was 3.3:1 for CD and 1.2:1 for UC. Perianal fistula/abscess was present in 43.3% of patients before or at CD diagnosis. At diagnosis, 54.3% of UC patients presented only with proctitis. The adjusted prevalence rate in 2015 was 31.59/100 000 [95% CI, 31.10-32.07] for CD and 76.66/100 000 [95% CI, 75.91-77.42] for UC.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence and prevalence of IBD in Korea have continued to increase over the past three decades. Korean patients have distinct demographic and phenotypic characteristics, including a male predominance and high frequency of perianal fistula/abscess in CD and high proportion of proctitis in UC.

The global, regional, and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background

The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising globally, with substantial variation in levels and trends of disease in different countries and regions. Understanding these geographical differences is crucial for formulating effective strategies for preventing and treating IBD. We report the prevalence, mortality, and overall burden of IBD in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017, based on data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017.

Methods

We modelled mortality due to IBD using a standard Cause of Death Ensemble model including data mainly from vital registrations. To estimate the non-fatal burden, we used data presented in primary studies, hospital discharges, and claims data, and used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, to ensure consistency between measures. Mortality, prevalence, years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated. All of the estimates were reported as numbers and rates per 100 000 population, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI).

Findings

In 2017, there were 6·8 million (95% UI 6·4–7·3) cases of IBD globally. The age-standardised prevalence rate increased from 79·5 (75·9–83·5) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 84·3 (79·2–89·9) per 100 000 population in 2017. The age-standardised death rate decreased from 0·61 (0·55–0·69) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 0·51 (0·42–0·54) per 100 000 population in 2017. At the GBD regional level, the highest age-standardised prevalence rate in 2017 occurred in high-income North America (422·0 [398·7–446·1] per 100 000) and the lowest age-standardised prevalence rates were observed in the Caribbean (6·7 [6·3–7·2] per 100 000 population). High Socio-demographic Index (SDI) locations had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate, while low SDI regions had the lowest age-standardised prevalence rate. At the national level, the USA had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate (464·5 [438·6–490·9] per 100 000 population), followed by the UK (449·6 [420·6–481·6] per 100 000). Vanuatu had the highest age-standardised death rate in 2017 (1·8 [0·8–3·2] per 100 000 population) and Singapore had the lowest (0·08 [0·06–0·14] per 100 000 population). The total YLDs attributed to IBD almost doubled over the study period, from 0·56 million (0·39–0·77) in 1990 to 1·02 million (0·71–1·38) in 2017. The age-standardised rate of DALYs decreased from 26·5 (21·0–33·0) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 23·2 (19·1–27·8) per 100 000 population in 2017.

Interpretation

The prevalence of IBD increased substantially in many regions from 1990 to 2017, which might pose a substantial social and economic burden on governments and health systems in the coming years. Our findings can be useful for policy makers developing strategies to tackle IBD, including the education of specialised personnel to address the burden of this complex disease.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Comparison of outcomes of continuation/discontinuation of 5-aminosalicylic acid after initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Few maintenance therapeutic options are available for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data on the effects of continuing 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) treatment in patients who commence on biologics as maintenance treatment remain scarce. We evaluated IBD patient outcomes after continuation/discontinuation of 5-ASA when biologics were administered as maintenance treatment.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, laboratory, and imaging data of patients diagnosed with IBD (ulcerative colitis (UC), 763; Crohn's disease (CD), 537) in the Gil Medical Center (GMC) from February 2005 to June 2018. We divided patients administered with biologics as maintenance treatment into those who did and did not continue on 5-ASA and compared the efficacies of the two treatment options using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Of 1300 total IBD patients, 128 (UC, 63; CD, 65) were prescribed biologics as induction and maintenance treatments. The median follow-up period was 109.5 weeks. All cases were divided into those who did or did not combine 5-ASA with biologics as maintenance treatments. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the event-free survival (exacerbation of disease activity) of UC patients treated with biologics and 5-ASA (n = 42) was not significantly lower than that of those taking biologics alone (n = 21) (log rank test, P = 0.68). The same was true of CD patients (n = 42, biologics and 5-ASA; n = 23, biologics only) (log rank test, P = 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuation of 5-ASA after initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents did not improve prognosis in Korean IBD patients compared with that of those who discontinued 5-ASA during maintenance treatment, particularly in patients who experienced more than two disease aggravations.

Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Hospital-Based Study in Central Taiwan

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are low but increasing in Taiwan. We aimed to investigate the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of IBD in central Taiwan. We retrospectively analyzed patients with IBD diagnosed at our hospital between January 2000 and September 2018. The diagnostic criteria were based on endoscopic and pathologic findings. Clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. A total of 190 patients with IBD were enrolled (80 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 110 with ulcerative colitis (UC)). The mean age at diagnosis was 38.4 years (CD: 36 years, UC: 40 years). Male patients accounted for the majority of patients (71.1%). The male-to-female ratio was 3 : 1 for CD and 2.1 : 1 for UC. Current and ever smokers accounted for 30.5% of all patients. Only 4.2% of patients had a family history of IBD. Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) were reported in 7.9%, and colorectal cancers (CRCs) were reported in 2.1% of all patients. In patients with CD, the ileal type was the most common disease phenotype (57.5%), and the stricturing type was the most common disease behavior (60.0%). In patients with UC, left-sided colitis was the predominant disease extent (42.7%). The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was 13.3%. The incidence of perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) in patients with UC was 22%. 5-Aminosalicylic acids were the preferred treatment for UC, whereas corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologic agents were preferred for CD. In patients with CD, the bowel resection rate was 38.8%, and the incidence of hip avascular necrosis was 3.8%. In Taiwan, patients with IBD showed a male predominance, lack of familial clustering, a higher prevalence of HBV infection, and a lower prevalence of p-ANCA, EIMs, and CRC. Moreover, a higher incidence of the ileal type with poor outcomes of CD and left-sided predominance in UC were found.

Capturing the Biologic Onset of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Impact on Translational and Clinical Science

While much progress has been made in the last two decades in the treatment and the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)-both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD)-as of today these conditions are still diagnosed only after they have become symptomatic. This is a major drawback since by then the inflammatory process has often already caused considerable damage and the disease might have become partially or totally unresponsive to medical therapy. Late diagnosis in IBD is due to the lack of accurate, non-invasive indicators that would allow disease identification during the pre-clinical stage-as it is often done in many other medical conditions. Here, we will discuss what is known about the biologic onset and pre-clinical CD with an emphasis on studies conducted in patients' first degree relatives. We will then review the possible strategies to diagnose IBD very early in time including screening, available disease markers and imaging, and the possible clinical implications of treating these conditions at or close to their biologic onset. Later, we will review the potential impact of conducting translational research in IBD during the pre-clinical stage, especially focusing on the role of the microbiome in disease etiology and pathogenesis. Finally, we will highlight possible future developments in the field and how they can impact IBD management and our scientific knowledge of these conditions.

Inflammatory bowel diseases: time of diagnosis, environmental factors, clinical course, and management - a follow-up study in a private inflammatory bowel disease center (2003-2017)

BACKGROUND

The governmental program of Brazilian Unified National Health System has already published studies on the incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but up until now, there have been no epidemiological studies in private centers in Brazil. However, these diseases tend to affect people from a higher socioeconomic class, mainly in the capital of MS state that has the third highest GDP in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to analyze an observational, descriptive study of an IBD database in a private center including: the side, behavior of the disease and medical management, the association of extra-intestinal manifestations, and the main clinical symptoms which led to the investigation and diagnosis of IBD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cohort study was developed in which data of all patients with IBD were analyzed with SPSS software in a constructed electronic database.

RESULTS

Of 329 patients, 212 (64.4%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 117 (35.6%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). Average age at diagnosis of CD was 36.19 (±14.33) and of UC was 41.61 (±15.37). An amount of 50.05% of the patients with CD and 72.7% (P<0.001) with UC were female. We have observed that concerning the first symptoms, diahrrea and blood feces corresponded to 70% in UC while in CD 50% of the patients presented diahrrea with blood feces, loss of weight corresponded to 50% and only diahrrea 25%. (P<0.001). Anti-TNFs corresponded to 56.2% being more frequent in CD 0.001%. CD patients used biologic therapy and antibiotics more frequently than those with UC. In conclusion, IBD is also frequent in private health care centers in Brazil; women are most affected. Symptoms such as diarrhea and bleeding, as well as diarrhea and weight loss, must be taken as warning signs to investigate for inflammatory disease. The use of biologic therapies is frequent in referral centers when patients have severe disease.