Management of Ulcerative Colitis in the Elderly.

The incidence rate of ulcerative colitis (UC) in older patients is rising. Diagnosis of UC may be difficult in older patients as several common gastrointestinal disorders can mimic UC in these patients. Compared with younger adults, left-sided colitis is more common in older-onset UC, while rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and extraintestinal manifestations are less common. The disease course of older-onset UC may be similar to that of adult-onset UC. The management of UC in older patients includes medical and surgical options. A majority of older UC patients are treated with 5-aminosalicylates. The underuse of immunosuppressants or biologics may lead to poor disease control, higher use of corticosteroids, and worse clinical outcomes in older UC patients. Serious infections and malignancy are the most concerning complications of immune-modifying agents or biologics in the elderly. Timely surgical referral of older UC patients with poor disease control is of utmost importance as elective colectomy may be associated with improved survival in these patients.

Elevated lactate level predicts intensive care unit admissions, endoscopies and transfusions in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Initial clinical management decision in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is often based on identifying high- and low-risk patients. Little is known about the role of lactate measurement in the triage of patients with acute GIB. We intended to assess if lactate on presentation is predictive of need for intervention in patients with acute GIB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study including patients ≥18 years old presenting to emergency with acute GIB between January 2014 and December 2014. Intensive care unit (ICU) admission, inpatient endoscopy (upper endoscopy and/or colonoscopy), and packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion were assessed as outcomes. Analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 1,237 patients with acute GIB, 468 (37.8%) had venous lactate on presentation. Of these patients, 165 (35.2%) had an elevated lactate level (>2.0 mmol/L). Patients with an elevated lactate level were more likely to be admitted to ICU than patients with a normal lactate level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-5.01; p<0.001). Patients with an elevated lactate level were more likely to receive PRBC transfusion (AOR 3.65, 95% CI 1.76-7.55; p<0.001) and endoscopy (AOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.02-2.65; p=0.04) than patients with a normal lactate level. CONCLUSION: Elevated lactate level predicts the need for ICU admissions, transfusions, and endoscopies in patients with acute GIB. Lactate measurement may be a useful adjunctive test in the triage of patients with acute GIB.

Healthcare maintenance in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The increasing number of older patients (age ≥60 years) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) highlights the importance of healthcare maintenance in this vulnerable population. Older IBD patients are more susceptible and have higher rates of many disease- and treatment-related adverse effects. Compared to younger IBD patients, older patients are at increased risk for infection, malignancy, bone disease, eye disease, malnutrition and thrombotic complications. Preventive strategies in the elderly differ from those in younger adults and are imperative. Changes to the immune system with aging can decrease the efficacy of vaccinations. Cancer screening guidelines in older IBD patients have to account for unique considerations, such as life expectancy, functional performance status, multimorbidity, financial status, and patient desires. Additionally, providers need to be vigilant in screening for osteoporosis, ocular disease, depression, and adverse events arising from polypharmacy.

Digital Rectal Examination Reduces Hospital Admissions, Endoscopies, and Medical Therapy in Patients with Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Although digital rectal examination is an established part of physical examinations in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding, clinicians are reluctant to perform a rectal examination. We intended to assess whether rectal examination affects the clinical management decision in these patients. METHODS: We performed a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study using data from electronic health records of patients aged ≥18 years presenting to the emergency department with acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Hospital admissions, intensive care unit admissions, gastroenterology consultation, initiation of medical therapy (proton pump inhibitor or octreotide), and inpatient endoscopy (upper endoscopy or colonoscopy) were assessed as outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 1237 patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding, 549 (44.4%) did not have a rectal examination. Patients who had a rectal examination were less likely to be admitted than patients who did not have a rectal examination (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.79; P = .004). Patients who had a rectal examination were less likely to be started on medical therapy (AOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41-0.98; P = .04) and to have endoscopy (AOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.94; P = .02) than patients who did not have a rectal examination. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal examination in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding can assist clinicians with clinical management decision and reduce admissions, endoscopies, and medical therapy in these patients.