An integrated approach of support vector machine (SVM) and weight of evidence (WOE) techniques to map groundwater potential and assess water quality.

This study addresses the critical need for effective groundwater (GW) management in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, amidst challenges posed by rapid urbanization and population growth. By integrating Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Weight of Evidence (WOE) techniques, this study aimed to delineate GW potential zones and assess water quality. This study fills the gap in applying advanced machine learning and geostatistical methods for accurate GW potential mapping. Eight thematic layers based on topography, hydrology, geology, and ecology were utilized to compute the GW potential model. Additionally, water quality analysis was performed on collected samples. The findings indicate that flat and gently sloping terrains, areas with an elevation range of 611 -687 m, and concave slope geometries are associated with higher GW potential. Additionally, proximity to drainage and high-density lineament zones contribute to increased GW potential. The results showed that 31.1% of the area had excellent GW potential according to the WOE model, whereas the SVM model indicated that only 20.3% fell in the excellent potential zone. Results showed that both models performed well in the delineating GW potential zones. Nevertheless, the application of the SVM method is highly recommended which will be benefited in GW resources management related to urban planning. The study also evaluates the spatial distribution of GW quality, with a focus on physical and chemical parameters, including electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, chloride, nitrate, and sulphate. Bacterial contamination assessment reveals that 76% of spring water samples (30 out of 39 samples) are contaminated with E.coli, raising public health concerns. Based on the chemical analysis of GW samples the study identified exceedances of WHO guidelines for calcium in two samples, magnesium in seven samples, sulphate in ten samples, and nitrate levels were below the WHO guideline across all samples. These results highlight localized chemical contamination issues that require targeted remediation efforts to safeguard water quality for public health.

Factors Associated With Short-Term Complications After Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Insertion: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is generally safe but is associated with a range of complications. Minor complications include infections, granuloma formation, leakage, and blockages, while major complications encompass aspiration pneumonia, hemorrhage, and more serious conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis and colonic fistula. AIM: This study aimed to assess the rate of short-term complications within one month of endoscopic PEG insertion, focusing on their correlation with patient characteristics. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from patients who underwent PEG insertion between January 2020 and December 2022. It evaluated the incidence of complications in relation to variables such as the indication for the procedure, the patient's immune status, albumin and CRP levels, and the setting of the procedure (inpatient vs. outpatient). RESULTS: The study included 121 patients, with a mean age of 69.73 years, comprising 71 males (58.7%) and 50 females (41.3%). Neurological indications accounted for 64.5% of the cases. Notably, 67.8% of the patients were immunocompromised. Within 30 days of PEG insertion, 16.5% experienced complications, including GI bleeding (4.1%), infection at the PEG site (11.6%), and peritonitis (0.8%). Complications were significantly higher in immunocompromised patients and those with non-neurological indications. Higher serum albumin and lower CRP levels were associated with fewer complications, though the association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The study highlights that gastrostomy site infection is the most common short-term complication following PEG insertion. Immune status and the reason for PEG insertion emerged as key factors influencing the likelihood of complications.

Baseline Clinical Factors Are Associated With Risk of Complications in Crohn's Disease: Appraisal of the American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Care Pathway.

INTRODUCTION: The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has compiled risk factors that may be predictive of disease complications in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the AGA risk factors for risk stratification in UC and CD. METHODS: We included participants of 2 cohorts: the Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry cohort and the Mayo Clinic cohort. Baseline clinical risk factors were extracted according to the AGA pathway. Our primary end point was defined as follows: (i) any inflammatory bowel disease related-hospitalization, (ii) any inflammatory bowel disease-related bowel surgery, or (iii) any progression of disease. We analyzed the association of the number of AGA risk factors with our end point. Statistical multivariable modeling was performed with Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 412 patients with CD were included. Comparing ≥3 risk factors with 0-1 risk factor, we found a significantly increased risk of complications in both the Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry cohort (hazard ratio [HR] 2.75, 95% confidence interval 1.71-4.41) and Mayo Clinic cohort (HR 2.07, 95% confidence interval 1.11-3.84). Diagnosis at younger age (HR 2.07), perianal disease (HR 1.99), and B2/B3 behavior (HR 1.92) were significantly associated with disease complications. We did not observe a consistent association between number of risk factors nor any specific individual risk factors and risk of disease complications in the 265 patients with UC included. DISCUSSION: We found a significant association between the number of AGA risk factors and the risk of disease complication in CD; this association was not significant in UC. The presence of ≥ 3 risk factors in CD leads to the highest risk of complications. The AGA care pathway is a useful tool to stratify patients who are at higher risk of disease complications in patients with CD.

Deciphering salivary microbiome signature in Crohn's disease patients with different factors contributing to dysbiosis.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. An imbalanced microbiome (dysbiosis) can predispose to many diseases including CD. The role of oral dysbiosis in CD is poorly understood. We aimed to explore microbiome signature and dysbiosis of the salivary microbiome in CD patients, and correlate microbiota changes to the level of inflammation. Saliva samples were collected from healthy controls (HC) and CD patients (n = 40 per group). Salivary microbiome was analyzed by sequencing the entire 16S rRNA gene. Inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein and calprotectin) were measured and correlated with microbiome diversity. Five dominant species were significantly enriched in CD, namely Veillonella dispar, Megasphaera stantonii, Prevotella jejuni, Dolosigranulum pigrum and Lactobacillus backii. Oral health had a significant impact on the microbiome since various significant features were cariogenic as Streptococcus mutans or periopathogenic such as Fusobacterium periodonticum. Furthermore, disease activity, duration and frequency of relapses impacted the oral microbiota. Treatment with monoclonal antibodies led to the emergence of a unique species called Simonsiella muelleri. Combining immunomodulatory agents with monoclonal antibodies significantly increased multiple pathogenic species such as Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Loss of diversity in CD was shown by multiple diversity indices. There was a significant negative correlation between gut inflammatory biomarkers (particularly calprotectin) and α-diversity, suggesting more inflammation associated with diversity loss in CD. Salivary dysbiosis was evident in CD patients, with unique microbiota signatures and perturbed species that can serve as disease biomarkers or potential targets for microbiota modulation. The interplay of various factors collectively contributed to dysbiosis, although each factor probably had a unique effect on the microbiome. The emergence of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity of CD patients is alarming since they can disturb gut homeostasis and induce inflammation by swallowing, or hematogenous spread of microbiota, their metabolites, or generated inflammatory mediators.

One-year outcomes following operative or non-operative management of adhesional small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: A trial of initial non-operative management is recommended in stable patients with adhesional small bowel obstruction. However, recent retrospective studies have suggested that early operative management may be of benefit in reducing subsequent recurrences. This study aimed to compare recurrence rates and survival in patients with adhesional small bowel obstruction treated operatively or non-operatively. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study conducted at six acute hospitals in Denmark, including consecutive patients admitted with adhesional small bowel obstruction over a 4-month interval. Patients were stratified into two groups according to their treatment (operative versus non-operative) and followed up for 1 year after their index admission. Primary outcomes were recurrence of small bowel obstruction and overall survival within 1 year of index admission. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients were included, 118 (58.7 per cent) of whom were treated operatively during their index admission. Patients undergoing operative treatment had significantly better 1-year recurrence-free survival compared with patients managed non-operatively (operative 92.5 per cent versus non-operative 66.6 per cent, P <0.001). However, when the length of index admission was taken into account, patients treated non-operatively spent significantly less time admitted to hospital in the first year (median 3 days non-operative versus 6 days operative, P <0.001). On multivariable analysis, operative treatment was associated with decreased risks of recurrence (HR 0.22 (95 per cent c.i. 0.10-0.48), P <0.001) but an increased all-cause mortality rate (HR 2.48 (95 per cent c.i. 1.13-5.46), P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Operative treatment of adhesional small bowel obstruction is associated with reduced risks of recurrence but increased risk of death in the first year after admission. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04750811 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).prior (registration date: 11 February 2021).

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in inflammatory bowel disease: a nationwide analysis.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but life-threatening immune dysregulation disease. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can become profoundly immunocompromised due to immunosuppressive therapy, hence increasing the risk of viral infections that can trigger HLH. However, data on the association between IBD and HLH remains limited. We used data from the National Inpatient Sample (2012-2019) utilizing International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 or ICD-10 codes to identify individuals with IBD, either Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC), and HLH. The primary outcome was to compare the prevalence of HLH among patients with IBD with those without IBD. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, mean hospital length of stay, and description of HLH-associated triggers in IBD patients. A total of 513,322 hospitalizations included a diagnosis of IBD, 188,297 had UC and 325,025 had CD. Compared to the general population, patients with IBD were older (median age of 52 vs. 49 years, p < 0.05), more likely to be male, and of Asian/Pacific Islander descent, and had a higher median household income. There was also a higher prevalence of liver disease, autoimmune diseases, tobacco abuse, and hypothyroidism (all had p-value of < 0.001) in IBD patients. There were 94 hospitalizations identified with a diagnosis of HLH in IBD patients. Compared to patients without IBD, patients with IBD had increased odds of developing HLH (0.02% vs 0.01%, p-value < 0.001). After adjusting for various demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, and HLH-related conditions, IBD was an independent predictor for developing HLH (adjusted OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.847-2.866, p-value of < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between CD and UC in the odds of developing HLH. Compared to IBD patients without HLH, patients with IBD and HLH had a lower mean age at diagnosis (38 vs 52, p-value of < 0.001), higher in-hospital mortality (14.9% vs 1.5%, p-value of < 0.001), and longer mean hospital length of stay (days) (17 vs 5.4, p-value of < 0.001). Prevalence of different HLH-associated illnesses was identified in HLH patient's discharge data. Lymphoma was the most common associated malignancy (18.1%) and cytomegalovirus infection was the most common associated infection (16.0%). Our population-based study suggests that IBD is independently associated with developing HLH. Early recognition of IBD patients presenting with features suggestive of HLH is warranted to aide early diagnosis and aggressive treatment.

Interobserver agreement of the modified Paris classification and histology prediction of colorectal lesions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: SCENIC (International Consensus Statement on Surveillance and Management of Dysplasia in IBD) guidelines recommend that visible dysplasia in patients with longstanding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) should be endoscopically characterized using a modified Paris classification. This study aimed to determine the interobserver agreement (IOA) of the modified Paris classification and endoscopists' accuracy for pathology prediction of IBD visible lesions. METHODS: One hundred deidentified endoscopic still images and 30 videos of IBD visible colorectal lesions were graded by 10 senior and 4 trainee endoscopists from 5 tertiary care centers. Endoscopists were asked to assign 4 classifications for each image: the standard Paris classification, modified Paris classification, pathology prediction, and lesion border. Agreement was measured using Light's kappa coefficient. Consensus of ratings was assessed according to strict majority. RESULTS: The overall Light's kappa for all study endpoints was between .32 and .49. In a subgroup analysis between junior and senior endoscopists, Light's kappa continued to be less than .6 with a slightly higher agreement among juniors. Lesions with the lowest agreement and no consensus were mostly classified as Is, IIa, and mixed Paris classification and sessile and superficial elevated for modified Paris classification. Endoscopist accuracy for prediction of dysplastic, nondysplastic, and serrated pathology was 77%, 56%, and 30%, respectively. There was a strong association (P < .001) between the given morphology classification and the predicted pathology with Ip lesions carrying a much lower expectation of dysplasia than Is/IIc/III and mixed lesions. The agreement for border prediction was .5 for junior and .3 for senior endoscopists. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates very low IOA for Paris and modified Paris classifications and low accuracy and IOA for lesion histopathology prediction. Revisions of these classifications are required to create a clinically useful risk stratification tool and enable eventual application of augmented intelligence tools.

Significance of granulomas in the outcomes of Crohn's disease patients.

Background: The presence of granulomas in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is one of the characteristic histologic features of Crohn's disease (CD). The clinical significance of granulomas remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the presence of granulomas on endoscopic pinch biopsy or surgical resection from the upper or lower GI tract is associated with worse outcomes among patients with CD. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients with CD evaluated at a tertiary care center between 1996 and 2019. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of granulomas on GI histology. Clinical and laboratory data, and outcomes of interest, were obtained from the electronic medical records. Patients' characteristics and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Results: A total of 237 patients were included in our study; 41 (17.3%) had granulomas on their biopsy/resection specimen. The presence of granulomas in the GI tract was significantly associated with the development of intra-abdominal abscesses and/or fistulas (P=0.037), greater utilization of immunomodulators (P=0.029), and greater use of immunosuppressive medications (immunomodulator and/or biologic therapy) (P=0.015). No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in terms of number of hospitalizations, presence of perianal disease, intestinal resection, mean age, mean age at initial diagnosis of CD, duration of disease, sex, or smoking history. Conclusions: The presence of granulomas in the GI tract of CD patients may serve as a prognostic biomarker of worse disease severity. Larger studies are needed to better validate this finding.

Vulvar Crohn's Disease: Clinical Features and Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Vulvar involvement is a rare complication of Crohn's disease (CD). The optimal treatment of vulvar CD is unknown. METHODS: We conducted a 25-year retrospective cohort study of vulvar CD from 3 referral centers. Clinical features and outcomes were studied. RESULTS: Fifty patients were identified. The most common vulvar symptoms were pain (74%), edema (60%), ulcerations (46%), nodules (36%), and abscess (34%). Medical management leading to symptomatic improvement varied, and 5 patients ultimately required surgery. DISCUSSION: Vulvar CD manifests with a broad spectrum of symptoms. Aggressive medical management was frequently effective, although surgery was required in 10% of cases.

P034 State of Health Maintenance Among IBD Patients at a Tertiary Care Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affecting 6.8 million persons globally. Treatment of IBD focuses largely on immune suppression or modulation using corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, thiopurines, or biologic agents. These agents are effective but most of them pose a risk of infections, cancers, and osteoporosis. Many of these complications can be prevented by implementing vaccination, cancer screening, and bone health programs. Despite the progress in IBD care, recent data suggest that many IBD patients do not get preventative services. Previous studies have examined rates of vaccinations and other health maintenance metrics in North America and Europe where IBD patients are mainly of European and African descent. In comparison, Middle Eastern and Asian descent persons comprise the majority of the IBD population in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of United Arab Emirates (UAE), a major country in the Gulf region of the Middle East. Little is known to date about the state of IBD preventative care in this region. We sought to assess the proportion of patients with IBD that underwent recommended vaccinations, cancer screening (surveillance colonoscopy, PAP smear, annual skin examination), and bone health evaluation at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), the largest tertiary care hospital in Abu Dhabi. METHODS: This study was a retrospective case series of adult IBD patients (>18 years) seen in the outpatient setting at SSMC from 2019 to 2020. Patients were identified based on ICD-10 codes for IBD [K50.90, K50.00, K51.90, and K50.80] as well as administrative/pharmacy records of the IBD agents (e.g. infliximab). Proportions were assessed using simple summary statistics and one sample proportion 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 55 IBD patients were identified in our study with the majority being males (76.3%). The mean age was 31.6 years. Sixty-nine percent had Crohn's. Most of the patients were on infliximab (58.1%), followed by vedolizumab, ustekinumab, and adalimumab. The proportion of patients who received vaccinations was as follows; HAV (67%, 95% CI 28-100%), HBV (50%, 95% CI 28-72%), pneumococcal 23 (20%, 95% CI 9.4-31%), pneumococcal 13 (18.2%, 95% CI 8-28%) and influenza vaccine (16.4%, 95% CI 7-26%). Moreover, the study showed that the proportion of IBD patients who underwent recommended colonoscopy surveillance was 91% (95% CI 79-100%) and the proportion of women IBD patients who had recommended PAP smear was 30%, (95% CI 2-58%). Regarding bone health, the proportion who underwent DXA bone scans was 36%, (95% CI 24-49%) However, the compliance rate of the Tdap, HPV and Zoster vaccinations, and annual skin examination were poor warranting further quality improvement studies. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the state of health maintenance among IBD patients seen at our facility before 2021 was largely dismal. Efforts are being taken to improve the proportion of patients who receive recommended vaccinations including annual influenza, pneumococcal 13 and 23, HPV, Zoster, and COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, there is a focus on bone health and skin cancer examinations with plans to calculate, report, and publish health maintenance data annually.

Association Between Serological Markers and Crohn's Disease Activity.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to study the association between six serological markers and Crohn's disease (CD) activity at an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) referral center. METHODS: We designed a retrospective cohort study using adults (> 18 years) with CD followed for at least 1 year at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Baseline serological markers ASCA-IgA, ASCA-IgG, anti-OmpC IgA, anti-CBir1 IgG, anti-A4Fla2 IgG and anti-FlaX IgG were drawn at initial visit. Poisson regression was used to assess the longitudinal relationship between these markers drawn at baseline and rate of active clinical disease during follow-up. RESULTS: Each marker, from 135 patients, was categorized into high vs. low. A Poisson regression model adjusted for age, gender, race, duration of disease, obesity, proton pump inhibitor; steroid and thiopurine use, and disease location demonstrated that CD patients with high anti-CBir1 IgG at baseline were approximately twice more likely to have active clinical disease (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28 - 3.33, P = 0.0032). The unadjusted Poisson regression model for A4Fla2 IgG antibody level did suggest that a high A4Fla2 IgG at baseline was associated with a higher likelihood of active CD (IRR 1.64, 95% CI 1.07, 2.53, P = 0.0238) which however, upon adjustment based on effect size, was not significant. The other four antibodies did not appear to predict clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of anti-CBir1 IgG appear to be associated with a greater likelihood of active CD. Whether routine baseline testing for anti-CBir1 IgG to predict a more active clinical course is warranted needs more research.

Comparative Effectiveness of Ustekinumab Versus Adalimumab in Induction of Clinical Response and Remission in Crohn's Disease: Experience of a Real-World Cohort at a Tertiary Care Inflammatory Bowel Disease Referral Center.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of head-to-head studies comparing the effectiveness of ustekinumab (UST) and adalimumab (ADA) in Crohn's disease (CD). Here we provide a real-world comparison of these two agents. METHODS: We conducted an ambidirectional cohort study. Each patient included had moderate to severe active CD. Clinical response and remission were assessed between 4 and 16 weeks after induction. RESULTS: Of a total of 163 patients, 97 were induced with ADA and 66 were induced with UST. Logistic regression model analysis adjusted based on effect size showed that ADA when compared to UST induced clinical response (73.2% vs. 50% (odds ratio (OR): 2.40; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14 - 5.07; P = 0.02)) and remission (44.3% vs. 27.7% (OR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.07 - 5.16; P = 0.034) in a statistically significantly higher proportion of patients. Among tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-naive patients, when comparing ADA vs. UST, ADA was superior in inducing clinical response (69/89 (77.5%) vs. 4/10 (40%) (OR: 4.26; 95% CI: 1.08 - 16.84; P = 0.04)), but not remission (41/89 (46%) vs. 3/9 (33%) (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 0.39 - 6.97; P = 0.503)). Among TNF-experienced patients, ADA was numerically inferior in inducing clinical response (2/8 (25%) vs. 29/56 (52%) (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.07 - 1.94; P = 0.24)) and remission (2/8 (25%) vs. 15/56 (27%) (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.22 - 6.81; P = 0.82)), but neither of these differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world setting, the rate of clinical response and remission was higher among patients with CD who received ADA compared to UST. Of note, however, despite the small sample sizes of TNF-experienced patients who received ADA and TNF-naive patients who received UST, the higher effectiveness of ADA in inducing clinical response and indeed remission among patients with CD with active disease appears to primarily be driven by those who are TNF-naive. Among TNF-experienced patients, UST may be superior in inducing clinical response and equally effective in inducing clinical remission when compared to ADA. Based on this study, one may infer that among TNF-experienced patients with CD with active disease, one could consider switching to an agent such as UST instead of a second approved TNF blocker. However, larger studies comparing the two agents are required.

Comparative Effectiveness of Vedolizumab vs. Infliximab Induction Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis: Experience of a Real-World Cohort at a Tertiary Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center.

BACKGROUND: Vedolizumab (VDZ), an adhesion molecule inhibitor and infliximab (IFX), a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, are both approved as first-line induction agents in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). However, there are no head-to-head studies comparing the relative effectiveness of the two agents. Here we provide a real-world comparison of these two agents. METHODS: We conducted an ambidirectional cohort study of adult UC patients seen at our tertiary inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center from 2012 to 2017. Each patient had moderately to severely active UC via partial Mayo score and was induced with IFX or VDZ. They were followed until assessment of clinical response. Poisson regression was used to calculate clinical response rates and rate ratios. RESULTS: Of 59 patients who met inclusion criteria, 27 and 32 patients were induced with IFX and VDZ, respectively. Totally, 18/27 (66.7%) patients induced with IFX vs. 24/32 (78.1%) patients induced with VDZ were clinical responders. Response rates per 100 person-weeks (PW) were similar for VDZ (5.21) and IFX (5.38). The effectiveness in terms of induction of clinical response (incidence rate ratio, IRR) was not statistically significant for VDZ vs. IFX (IRR 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53 - 1.77). Among TNF blocker naive patients, IRR was also not statistically significant between VDZ (6.74/100 PW) and IFX (6.48/100 PW) (IRR 1.04, 95% CI 0.47 - 2.29). Among TNF blocker experienced patients, there was a higher response rate for VDZ (4.52) vs. IFX (2.29) per 100 PW, but the IRR did not reveal statistical significance (IRR 1.97, 95% CI 0.45 - 8.63) due to small sample size of TNF blocker experienced patients who received IFX. Five patients developed severe infection or adverse reaction during IFX induction requiring exclusion, whereas no VDZ patients were excluded for this reason. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a higher proportion of patients who responded to VDZ vs. IFX; however when accounting for period between induction and assessment of clinical response, rates of clinical response were similar. A key difference between the two groups was the higher response rate in the VDZ group among TNF blocker experienced patients; however, a larger cohort is needed to further elaborate on this difference. VDZ held its own against IFX and this study strengthens its standing as a first-line agent among TNF blocker naive as well as TNF blocker experienced UC patients.

Socioeconomic Status and Race are both Independently associated with Increased Hospitalization Rate among Crohn's Disease Patients.

Racial disparities are observed clinically in Crohn's Disease (CD) with research suggesting African Americans (AA) have worse outcomes than Caucasian Americans (CA). The aim of this study is to assess whether socioeconomic status (SES) rather than race is the major predictor of worse outcomes. We designed a retrospective cohort study of 944 CD patients seen at our center. Patients' billing zip codes were collected and average income and percent of population living above or below poverty level (PL) for each zip code calculated. Patients were separated by quartiles using average state income level and federal PL. Demographics and hospitalization rates were collected. Poison regression models estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) for CD-related hospitalizations. Incidence rate (IR) of hospitalization per 100-person years for the lowest income group was 118 (CI 91.4-152.3), highest income group was 29 (CI 21.7-38.9), Above PL was 26.9 (25.9-28.9), Below PL was 35.9 (33.1-38.9), CA was 25.3 (23.7-27), and AA was 51.4 (46.8-56.3). IRR for a CD-related hospitalization for lowest income group was 2.01 (CI 1.34-3.01), for Below PL was 1.26 (CI 1.12-1.42), and for AAs was 1.88 (CI 1.66-2.12). SES and race are both associated with hospitalization among CD patients and need further investigation.

Impact of vitamin D on the hospitalization rate of Crohn's disease patients seen at a tertiary care center.

AIM: To study the association between vitamin D level and hospitalization rate in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. METHODS: We designed a retrospective cohort study using adult patients (> 19 years) with CD followed for at least one year at our inflammatory bowel disease center. Vitamin D levels were divided into: low mean vitamin D level (< 30 ng/mL) vs appropriate mean vitamin D level (30-100 ng/mL). Generalized Poisson Regression Models (GPR) for Rate Data were used to estimate partially adjusted and fully adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) of hospitalization among CD patients. We also examined IRRs for vitamin D level as a continuous variable. RESULTS: Of the 880 CD patients, 196 patients with vitamin D level during the observation period were included. Partially adjusted model demonstrated that CD patients with a low mean vitamin D level were almost twice more likely to be admitted (IRR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.38-2.24) compared to those with an appropriate vitamin D level. The fully adjusted model confirmed this association (IRR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.11-1.87). Partially adjusted model with vitamin D level as a continuous variable demonstrated, higher mean vitamin D level was associated with a 3% lower likelihood of admission with every unit (ng/mL) rise in mean vitamin D level (IRR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.96-0.98). The fully adjusted model confirmed this association (IRR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.97-0.99). CONCLUSION: Normal or adequate vitamin D stores may be protective in the clinical course of CD. However, this role needs to be further characterized and understood.

Rates of hospitalization among African American and Caucasian American patients with Crohn's disease seen at a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: There is equivocal evidence regarding differences in the clinical course and outcomes of Crohn's disease (CD) among African Americans compared with Caucasian Americans. We sought to analyze whether African Americans with CD are more likely to be hospitalized for CD-related complications when compared with Caucasian Americans with CD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 909 African Americans and Caucasian Americans with CD who were seen at our tertiary care Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) referral center between 2000 and 2013. We calculated the rate of hospitalization for CD-related complications among African Americans and Caucasian Americans separately. Zero-inflated Poisson regression models with robust variance estimates were used to estimate crude and multivariable adjusted rate ratios (RR) for CD-related hospitalizations. Multivariable adjusted models included adjustment for age, sex, duration of CD, smoking and CD therapy. RESULTS: The cumulative rate of CD-related hospital admissions was higher among African American patients compared with Caucasian American patients (395.6/1000 person-years in African Americans vs. 230.4/1000 person-years in Caucasian Americans). Unadjusted and multivariable adjusted rate ratios for CD-related hospitalization comparing African Americans and Caucasian Americans were 1.59 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.10-2.29; P=0.01) and 1.44 (95%CI: 1.02-2.03; P=0.04), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: African Americans with CD followed at a tertiary IBD-referral center had a higher rate for CD-related hospitalizations compared with Caucasian Americans. Future studies should examine whether socioeconomic status and biologic markers of disease status could explain the higher risk observed among African Americans.

Budesonide Use and Hospitalization Rate in Crohn's Disease: Results From a Cohort at a Tertiary Care IBD Referral Center.

BACKGROUND: Budesonide is generally not used for periods > 90 days in Crohn's disease (CD). We sought to study the association between cumulative outpatient budesonide use in days and hospitalization rate in CD patients seen at our institution. METHODS: Using a retrospective cohort study design, we selected CD patients > 19 years old and followed for at least 1 year. Days of outpatient budesonide use were calculated by reviewing outpatient clinic notes. Treatment groups included patients who were not given budesonide, received budesonide from 1 to 90 days, and received budesonide > 90 days. We performed univariate analyses and developed generalized Poisson regression models for rate data to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for CD-related hospitalization. RESULTS: Of 767 CD patients, 664 did not receive budesonide, 45 received budesonide from 1 to 90 days, and 58 received budesonide for > 90 days. Incidence rates of hospitalization in patients who received no budesonide vs. 1 - 90 days of budesonide vs. > 90 days of budesonide were 31, 26, and 19 per 100 person-years, respectively. Adjusted models demonstrated that receiving outpatient budesonide from 1 to 90 days and for > 90 days was associated with a lower likelihood of being admitted for a CD exacerbation (1 - 90 days: IRR 0.85; 95% CI 0.65 - 1.10; > 90 days: IRR 0.71; 95% CI 0.56 - 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient budesonide use appears to be associated with a lower likelihood of a CD-related hospitalization, notably when used for > 90 days. This association needs to be further assessed before recommending this agent for routine use for > 90 days.

Predictors of Outcome of Rectovaginal Fistula Surgery in Women With Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Despite measures taken to control traditional risk factors like increased rectal disease activity, anorectal stenosis, and, to a lesser extent, obesity, rates of poor outcomes after rectovaginal fistula (RVF) surgery in women with Crohn's disease (CD) are still high and require further elucidation. To bridge the gap, we sought to identify risk factors beyond the aforementioned determinants that may be associated with poor outcomes in these patients. METHODS: We designed a retrospective, unmatched, case-control study to test our hypothesis. The population comprised women with CD who underwent RVF surgery between the years of 2000 and 2013. Cases were defined as surgeries with an unsuccessful outcome at 4 weeks post-surgery, and controls represented those with a successful outcome at 4 weeks post-surgery. With multivariable logistic regression models, we sought to identify pertinent risk factors for poor outcomes after RVF surgery in these women. RESULTS: Of the 108 women with CD who were referred to our institution for evaluation of RVFs between 2000 and 2013, 39 underwent a total of 63 surgeries, of which 16 were cases and 47 were controls. There were no significant differences between them with regard to medications and clinical or mucosal disease severity, but a significantly higher proportion of poor outcomes arose from the group of women who underwent a mucosal flap procedure (88%) compared to those who had a seton placed (13%; P = 0.0004). The final adjusted logistic regression model demonstrated that women who underwent a mucosal flap procedure instead of a seton placement were 17.5 times more likely to have a poor surgical outcome (odds ratio (OR): 17.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.12 - 98.43; P = 0.0012). Moreover, it was seen that women with active colonic mucosal disease, independent of rectal disease activity, were 4.4 times more likely to have a poor outcome (OR: 4.40; 95% CI: 1.06 - 18.26). CONCLUSION: Mucosal flap procedures, representing the second, or definitive, stage in surgical treatment of RVF are associated with much worse outcomes and therefore should be preceded by aggressive medical optimization of the patient.