Patients With IBD With Incomplete COVID-19 Vaccinations Have More Risk of Hospitalization

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with incomplete COVID-19 vaccinations are at greater risk of hospitalization from severe COVID-19, according to the results of a study presented at the Crohn’s & Colitis Congress, which took place virtually January 20 through 22, 2022.¹

Investigators analyzed data from the Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion in Inflammatory Bowel Disease database to describe outcomes and identify risk factors for severe disease from COVID-19 infection in this population.¹

The study results, which were presented by Emily Spiera of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, show that in patients with IBD, incomplete vaccination, non-mRNA vaccines, and combination therapy are associated with an increased risk of adverse events during breakthrough COVID-19 infections.¹

Meanwhile, the results of another study presented by Hyeong Sik Ahn of Korea University’s Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical School at the meeting show that there is a higher risk of autoimmune disease, growth failure, and IBD in the children of women with IBD.¹

This is the largest study to assess the long-term influence of maternal IBD on the disease’s effect on the development and growth of their offspring. Using a database of 3 million women who gave birth during the study period, the investigators identified that children born to mothers with IBD were at higher risk of developing autoimmune disease and IBD. These children were also at higher risk for growth failure up to aged 6 years, defined as less than the 3 percentiles in height and weight. There was no increased risk for other diseases tracked, including autism spectrum disorder, bronchial asthma, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders.¹

Other abstracts presented at the meeting included cell-autonomous hedgehog signaling controls TH17 differentiation to drive intestinal inflammation and is a druggable target for the treatment of IBD; corticosteroids and 5ASA versus corticosteroids alone for acute severe ulcerative colitis: a randomized controlled trial; endoscopic stricturotomy, which is a novel therapeutic modality for IBD-related strictures: first European experience; and point-of-care intestinal ultrasound for the detection of postoperative Crohn disease endoscopic recurrence.¹

In total, there were 27 abstracts presented at the meeting, according to a statement.¹

All abstracts that were presented at the meeting were published in online supplements to Gastroenterology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.¹

During the IBD meeting, presenters reviewed the latest advancements in IBD patient care to improve the lives of the millions of Americans living with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.¹

Nearly 3 million Americans are affected by IBD, according to the American Gastroenterological Association, which co-hosted the meeting with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.²

References

1. IBD patients with incomplete COVID-19 vaccinations are at greater risk of hospitalization. News release. January 20, 2022. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/940120

2. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). American Gastroenterological Association, Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/sites/default/files/legacy/assets/pdfs/ibdfactbook.pdf