Adverse clinical phenotype in inflammatory bowel disease: a cross sectional study identifying factors potentially amenable to change.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A significant proportion with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit an adverse clinical phenotype reflected in endpoints like surgery and hospitalizations. We sought to identify clinico-demographic factors associated with these adverse consequences that may be amenable to change.

METHODS: Over 6 months IBD patients visiting a metropolitan center were prospectively identified and given a comprehensive survey addressing patient knowledge, mental health and satisfaction with medical care along with other clinical data. Logistic regression analyses assessed for associations between clinico-demographic variables and adverse clinical endpoints (previous surgery [ever] and/or recent inpatient admission over a 16 month observation period).

RESULTS: Of 256 IBD patients, 162 responded (response rate 63%); 95 (59%) had Crohn's disease (CD), 63 (40%) ulcerative colitis (UC), four indeterminate colitis; 53% were female. Factors associated with a greater likelihood of hospitalization included moderate/severe disease activity, psychological co-morbidity, numbers of medications and outpatient visits (odds ratio [OR] 7.09 [2.83-17.76], 4.13 [1.25-13.61], 1.26 [1.03-1.54], 1.17 [1.00-1.37] respectively; all P < 0.05). Post-surgical patients were more likely to have CD, more currently active disease and longer disease duration (OR 8.55 [2.43-29.4], 3.52 [1.26, 9.87], 1.14 [1.08, 1.21] respectively; all P < 0.02), yet were less likely to have previously seen a gastroenterologist, OR 0.25 [0.08-0.76] (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: 'At risk' patients (those previously operated, with ongoing disease activity, dissatisfaction and/or psychological comorbidities) may benefit from early identification and more intensive management. Specialist gastroenterology care appears to be under-utilized in operated patients yet may reduce future IBD morbidity.