Low Incidence of Varicella in Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

INTRODUCTION

Immune-modifying therapies in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increase infection risks, including varicella.

METHODS

Using Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart Database, a nationwide US commercial insurance claims database (2007-2022), we conducted a retrospective study of 5,368 patients with IBD aged 21 years or younger matched to a non-IBD cohort. The primary outcome was incidence of varicella.

RESULTS

Varicella incidence was low in both groups (IBD: 0.570 vs non-IBD: 0.297 per 1,000 person-years, P = 0.23). At year 4, cumulative varicella incidence was 0.27% for IBD and 0.18% for non-IBD ( P = 0.24). No hospitalizations or deaths occurred.

DISCUSSION: Despite immune-modifying therapy, pediatric patients with IBD demonstrate low varicella incidence.