Background: Italy has been one of the most affected countries in the world by COVID-19. There has been increasing concern regarding the impact of COVID-19 on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly in patients treated with immunosuppressants or biologics. The aim of our study is to understand the incidence of COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients with IBD. Furthermore, we analyzed possible risk factors for infection and severity of COVID-19. Methods: This was an observational study evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on IBD patients in a single tertiary center. A 23 multiple-choice-question anonymous survey was administered to 1200 patients with IBD between March 10th and June 10th 2020. Results: 1158 questionnaires were analyzed. The majority of patients had Crohn’s disease (CD) (60%) and most of them were in clinical remission. Among the 26 patients (2.2%) who tested positive for COVID- 19, only 5 (3CD) were on biological treatment and none required hospitalization. Two patients died and were on treatment with mesalazine only. Of the 1158 patients, 521 were on biological therapy, which was discontinued in 85 (16.3%) and delayed in 195 patients (37.4%). A worsening of IBD symptoms was observed in 200 patients on biological therapy (38.4%). Most of these patients, 189 (94.5%), had stopped or delayed biological treatment, while 11 (5.5%) had continued their therapy regularly ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our data are in line with the current literature and confirm a higher incidence compared to the general population. Biological therapy for IBD seems to not be a risk factor for infection and should not be discontinued in order to avoid IBD relapse.

COVID-19 in IBD: The experience of a single tertiary IBD center

Fernando Rizzello
Primo
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Carlo Calabrese
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Marco Salice
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Lucia Calandrini
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Hana Privitera
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Laura Melotti
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Giulia Peruzzi
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Nikolas Dussias
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Andrea Belluzzi
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Eleonora Scaioli
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Anastasio Decorato
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Eleonora Filippone
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Silvio Laureti
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Matteo Rottoli
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Gilberto Poggioli
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Paolo Gionchetti
Ultimo
Membro del Collaboration Group
2021

Abstract

Background: Italy has been one of the most affected countries in the world by COVID-19. There has been increasing concern regarding the impact of COVID-19 on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly in patients treated with immunosuppressants or biologics. The aim of our study is to understand the incidence of COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients with IBD. Furthermore, we analyzed possible risk factors for infection and severity of COVID-19. Methods: This was an observational study evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on IBD patients in a single tertiary center. A 23 multiple-choice-question anonymous survey was administered to 1200 patients with IBD between March 10th and June 10th 2020. Results: 1158 questionnaires were analyzed. The majority of patients had Crohn’s disease (CD) (60%) and most of them were in clinical remission. Among the 26 patients (2.2%) who tested positive for COVID- 19, only 5 (3CD) were on biological treatment and none required hospitalization. Two patients died and were on treatment with mesalazine only. Of the 1158 patients, 521 were on biological therapy, which was discontinued in 85 (16.3%) and delayed in 195 patients (37.4%). A worsening of IBD symptoms was observed in 200 patients on biological therapy (38.4%). Most of these patients, 189 (94.5%), had stopped or delayed biological treatment, while 11 (5.5%) had continued their therapy regularly ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our data are in line with the current literature and confirm a higher incidence compared to the general population. Biological therapy for IBD seems to not be a risk factor for infection and should not be discontinued in order to avoid IBD relapse.
2021
Fernando Rizzello, Carlo Calabrese, Marco Salice, Lucia Calandrini, Hana Privitera, Laura Melotti, Giulia Peruzzi, Nikolas Dussias, Andrea Belluzzi, Eleonora Scaioli, Anastasio Decorato, Antonio Siniscalchi, Eleonora Filippone, Silvio Laureti, Matteo Rottoli, Gilberto Poggioli, Paolo Gionchetti
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/791334
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