Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE) Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Working Party guidelines on IBD management during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Khoon Lin Ling,
Ida Hilmi,
Raja Affendi Raja Ali,
Rupert W L Leong,
Wai Keung Leung,
Siew Chien Ng,
Kai Chun Wu,
Min Hu Chen,
Zhi Hua Ran,
Tadakazu Hisamatsu,
Vineet Ahuja,
Govind K Makharia,
Rupa Banerjee,
Shu Chen Wei,
Deng Chyang Wu,
Pises Pisespongsa,
Byong Duk Ye,
Jose Sollano,
Marcellus Simadibrata,
Sai Wei Chuah,
Choon Jin Ooi
Affiliations
Khoon Lin Ling
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre Singapore
Ida Hilmi
University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Raja Affendi Raja Ali
The National University of Malaysia Bangi Malaysia
Rupert W L Leong
Concord Hospital Sydney New South Wales Australia
Wai Keung Leung
University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
Siew Chien Ng
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
Kai Chun Wu
Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an China
Min Hu Chen
Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou China
Zhi Hua Ran
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
Tadakazu Hisamatsu
Kyorin University School of Medicine Mitaka Japan
Vineet Ahuja
All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India
Govind K Makharia
All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India
Rupa Banerjee
Asian Institute of Gastroenterology Hyderabad India
Shu Chen Wei
National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine Taipei Taiwan
Deng Chyang Wu
Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital Kaohsiung Taiwan
Pises Pisespongsa
Bumrungrad International Hospital Bangkok Thailand
Byong Duk Ye
University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul South Korea
Abstract The COVID‐19 pandemic, secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2, has resulted in high mortality and morbidity worldwide. As inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease, and most patients are on long‐term immunosuppressive agents, there is understandable concern, particularly in terms of therapy. In view of this, experts in IBD across the Asia Pacific region were invited to put together recommendations based on their experience and the currently available data. In general, most IBD therapies (with a few exceptions) can be continued safely, and the general consensus is that maintaining disease control should remain the main principle of management. In addition, social distancing measures and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment should be strictly adhered to. During the current pandemic, face‐to‐face clinic follow ups and non‐urgent procedures should be kept to a minimum.
