Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Tertiary Center Experience

Abstract

Introduction: The frequency, risk factors, and outcome of Severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in IBD. Materials and Methods: Patients with IBD were recruited retrospectively between March 2020 and March 2021, and those with SARS-CoV-2 infection were analyzed. Results: A total of 894 patients with IBD were identified during the study period. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 18 (2.0%) patients, including five (1.2%) of the 430 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), 12 (2.8%) of 428 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and, one (2.8%) of 36 with unclassified IBD. The mean age was 42.2 years. Twelve (66.7%) of the patients were men. None of the patients was vaccinated for Coronavirus disease-2019. Five (27.8%) patients were hospitalized for a median of 10 days; the remaining patients were isolated at home. No intensive care unit admission or mortality occurred. Although a disease flare was not observed, a patient with UC who was on steroids demonstrated temporary terminal ileitis, pneumonitis intestinalis, and recto-vaginal fistulae. Six (33.3%) patients were on biologic agents, with one having concomitant immunomodulator and steroid therapy. The main gastrointestinal (GI) symptom was diarrhea in six (33.3%) patients. Conclusion: The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 2.0% (n=18) in patients with IBD. Diarrhea is the most common GI symptom and should not be confused with IBD flare.

Keywords

• covid-19
• crohn’s disease
• inflammatory bowel diseases
• sars-cov-2