Prevalence of anaemia in inflammatory bowel disease in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study in patients from private practices and university hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia represents a common complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Most studies on anaemia in IBD patients have been performed in tertiary referral centres (RC) and data from gastroenterologic practices (GP) are lacking. We investigated the frequency and severity of anaemia in IBD patients from tertiary referral centres and gastroenterologic practices compared to the general population. METHODS: Data were acquired from patients included in the Swiss IBD Cohort Study. IBD activity was evaluated by CDAI and modified Truelove and Witts severity index (MTWSI). Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin ≤120g/L in women and ≤130g/L in men. RESULTS: 125 patients from RC (66 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 59 with ulcerative colitis (UC)) and 116 patients from GP (71 CD and 45 UC) were included and compared to 6074 blood donors. Anaemia was found in 21.2% (51/241) of the IBD patients and more frequently in patients from RC as compared to GP and healthy controls (28.8% vs. 12.9% vs. 3.4%; P<0.01). IBD patients from RC suffered more frequently from active disease compared to IBD patients in GP (36% vs. 23%, P=0.032). Supplementation therapy (iron, vitamin B12, folic acid) was performed in 40% of anaemic IBD patients in GP as compared to 43% in RC. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia is a common complication in patients with IBD and significantly more prevalent in patients from referral centres as compared to patients from gastroenterologic practices. Physicians treating IBD patients should pay attention to the presence of anaemia and ensure sufficient supplementation therapy.

[Status of alternative medicine in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis patents: a questionnaire survey]. / Stellenwert der Komplementärmedizin bei M.-Crohn- und Colitis-ulcerosa-Patienten: Eine Fragebogenerhebung.

BACKGROUND: Patients with M. Crohn or colitis ulcerosa live with a chronic disease. Pharmaceuticals used in convention-al medicine have been proven to be effective but can have strong side-effects. Thus, it is no surprise that affected patients are very interested in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). OBJECTIVE: The aim of our survey was to investigate the use and the application of CAM by patients with M. Crohn and colitis ulcerosa in Switzerland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out-patients of the gastroenterological centre at the University Hospital Bern and of two gastroenterological private practices in a medium-sized city completed a self-administered questionnaire on CAM. Demographic variables, disease-related data, use of different approaches of complementary medicine, attitudes towards and the use of CAM were asked for. RESULTS: Out of 204 mailed questionnaires 71% (144) could be evaluated, 44% from patients of the University Hospital, 56% from patients of the gastroenterological private practices. CAM was used by 47% of the patients. The most commonly used methods of CAM were: homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. 67% of the patients benefitted by CAM in the long run, whereas 10.5% suffered a relapse of their disease during CAM therapies. The main reason for the patients to apply to CAM was to complement conventional treatment. CONCLUSION: Our survey points out that the studied out-patients have a strong interest in CAM. It is therefore important that clinical research in the various unconventional therapies will be further promoted.