RATE OF INFECTION (TUBERCULOSIS) IN BRAZILIANS IBD PRIVATE PATIENTS: FOLLOW-UP 15 YEARS.

BACKGROUND: Latent tuberculosis (LTB) is a condition where the patient is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but does not develop active TB. There's a possibility of tuberculosis (TB) activation following the introduction of anti-TNFs. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of biological therapy inducing LTB during inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) treatment over 15 years in a high-risk area in Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective study of an IBD patients' database was carried out in a private reference clinic in Brazil. All patients underwent TST testing and chest X-ray prior to treatment, and once a year after starting it. Patients were classified according to the Montreal stratification and risk factors were considered for developing TB. RESULTS: Among the analyzed factors, age and gender were risk factors for LTB. DC (B2 and P) and UC (E2) patients showed a higher number of LTB cases with statistical significance, what was also observed for adalimumab and infliximab users, compared to other medications, and time of exposure to them favored it significantly. Other factors such as enclosed working environment have been reported as risk. CONCLUSION: The risk of biological therapy causing LTB is real, so patients with IBD should be continually monitored. This study reveals that the longer the exposure to anti-TNFs, the greater the risk. BACKGROUND: •Rate of infection (tuberculosis) in Brazilians IBD private patients: follow-up 15 years. BACKGROUND: •Patients treated with immunosuppressants and/or anti-TNFs have a higher risk of developing opportunistic infections, among them the most common is latent tuberculosis or even active tuberculosis. BACKGROUND: •Similar risks may be noted in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). BACKGROUND: •This study reveals that the longer the exposure to anti-TNFs, the greater the risk for de IBD patients. BACKGROUND: •The study demonstrated the importance of monitoring these patients permanently and continuously.

The Impact of Electronic Media on Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may often consult the internet, which can cause anguish, fear, stress and anxiety. The aim of our study is to evaluate the use of the internet and its effects on patients with IBD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with quantitative frequency analysis. We applied a questionnaire comprising questions about internet use, and the DASS21 questionnaire to analyze internet impact on patients' stress and/or anxiety for 36 months. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were included over a period of 45 days (82% CD, 18% UC). The mean age was 41.3 years (±15.9 years). Internet use was more frequent in patients with a mean age of 39.5 years (±14.4 years), with the highest frequencies found in the age group of 26-36 years. Internet use were related to: 72.6% general information about the disease, 87.3% symptom information (42.1% once a week, 27.4% never, 18.8% once a month, 10.5% daily, and 3.2% twice a day). The most visited search engine was Google 63.7% and the most visited sites were: patient group sites 16.7%, health sites 16.2% medical sites 12.8%. CONCLUSION: The internet is often a resource utilized by patients with IBD and although these patients sought to obtain more information about their disease and their symptoms. The internet was not a factor influencing anxiety and stress for these patients.

Adherence to Rectal Mesalamine in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Rectal mesalamine is an effective induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis. Little is known about the adherence rates to rectal mesalamine or barriers to its use. The aim was to quantify the prevalence of nonadherence to rectal mesalamine and to identify patient-reported barriers to adherence. METHODS: A cohort of patients with ulcerative colitis was prospectively enrolled in this observational study and followed for 12 months. Adherence was assessed by tracking pharmacy refills (medication possession ratio). Individual interviews were undertaken in a subset of subjects. Transcripts from the focus groups and interviews were analyzed to identify themes and links between these themes using qualitative data software (MaxQDA). RESULTS: Seventy patients prescribed rectal mesalamine were prospectively enrolled in the study. At enrollment, 39 of 70 subjects (55%) self-reported "occasional nonadherence" to rectal mesalamine. Over the 12-month follow-up period, only 20 subjects (26%) completed 3 or more refills. Males, or subjects prescribed a once-a-day suppository, were significantly more likely to refill than females (odds ratio = 3.3, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-10.9) or those prescribed suppositories more than once a day (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.7). By medication possession ratio criteria, 71% of all subjects were nonadherent with their prescribed regimen (medication possession ratio <0.6). Nonadherers were significantly older than adherent subjects: mean age 48 years in nonadherers, versus 37 in adherers, P = 0.04. Patients who were nonadherent to rectal mesalamine frequently cited the mode of administration (65%) and busy lifestyle (40%) as reasons for nonadherence. CONCLUSIONS: Intentional nonadherence is common in patients who have been prescribed rectal mesalamine. Gender, age, frequency of dosing, and lifestyle factors may impact adherence.