Colectomy Rates Are Increasing Among Inpatients With Concomitant Ulcerative Colitis and Clostridioides difficile.

BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an important cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exacerbation and is associated with increased risk of hospitalization, colectomy, and mortality. Previous analysis have reported an increasing rate of CDI and associated mortality in IBD patients. We examined the trends in CDI-associated outcomes in hospitalized patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) over the last decade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from the National Inpatient Sample to identify patients hospitalized with both CDI and IBD from 2006 to 2014. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, partial/total colectomy, hospital length of stay, and charges. Analysis included univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2014, CDI-related hospitalizations increased in both CD (1.6% to 3.2%; P<0.001) and UC (4.9% to 8.6%; P<0.001). CDI-associated mortality in CD and UC patients decreased from 2.4% to 1.2% (P<0.001) and 11.3% to 9.7% (P<0.001), respectively. CDI-associated colectomy rate increased from 4.3% to 8.8% (P<0.001) in UC but decreased from 4.5% to 2.8% (P<0.001) in CD. In multivariable analysis, compared with 2006, there was a nonsignificant decrease in mortality in 2014 in both CD [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25-1.24] and UC (AOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.61-1.07), but a significant increase in colectomy in 2014 only in UC (AOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.46-3.06). CONCLUSIONS: CDI rates have increased in CD and UC over the last decade. Although there has been a significant increase in colectomies in UC, CDI-associated mortality in CD and UC has not increased over this time.

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.

Obesity Is Associated with Increased Risk of Colectomy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Hospitalized with Clostridium difficile Infection.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are associated with increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The effect of obesity on IBD course and development of complications is poorly understood. We performed this study to examine the effect of obesity on CDI-related morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with IBD. METHODS: We used data from the National Inpatient Sample across five study years (2010-2014) to identify patients ≥ 18 years hospitalized with both CDI and IBD. We compared the outcomes of in-hospital mortality, partial or total colectomy, hospital length of stay, and hospital charges between obese and non-obese IBD-CDI patients. Analysis included univariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 304,298 hospitalized patients with IBD, 13,517 (4.4%) patients had CDI. Of these, 996 (7.4%) patients were obese. Obese IBD-CDI patients had a higher risk of colectomy (adjusted odds ratio, AOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.30-1.96; p < 0.001), longer hospital length of stay (difference 0.8 days, 95% CI 0.02-1.58; p = 0.04), and higher hospital charges (difference $11,051, 95% CI 1939-20,163; p = 0.02) than non-obese IBD-CDI patients, but no significant difference in mortality was found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with a 60% increase in the risk of colectomy, longer hospital stay, and higher charges in IBD patients hospitalized with CDI. Further epidemiological and clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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.

Decreasing Clostridium difficile-Associated Fatality Rates Among Hospitalized Patients in the United States: 2004-2014.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection has emerged as a major public health problem in the United States over the last 2 decades. We examined the trends in the C. difficile-associated fatality rate, hospital length of stay, and hospital charges over the last decade. METHODS: We used data from the National Inpatient Sample to identify patients with a principal diagnosis of C. difficile infection from 2004 to 2014. Outcomes included in-hospital fatality rate, hospital length of stay, and hospital charges. For each outcome, trends were also stratified by age categories because the risk of infection and associated mortality increases with age. RESULTS: Clostridium difficile infection discharges increased from 19.9 per 100,000 persons in 2004 to 33.8 per 100,000 persons in 2014. Clostridium difficile-associated fatality decreased from 3.6% in 2004 to 1.6% in 2014 (P < .001). Among patients aged 45-64 years, fatality decreased from 1.2% in 2004 to 0.7% in 2014 (P < .001). Among patients aged 65-84 years, fatality decreased from 4.3% in 2004 to 2.0% in 2014 (P < .001). Among patients aged ≥85 years, fatality decreased from 6.9% in 2004 to 3.6% in 2014 (P < .001). The mean length of hospital stay decreased from 6.9 days in 2004 to 5.8 days in 2014 (P < .001). The mean hospital charges increased from 2004 ($24,535) to 2014 ($35,898) (P < .001). CONCLUSION: In-hospital fatality associated with C. difficile infection in the United States has decreased more than 2-fold in the last decade, despite increasing infection rates.

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.

Appointment Wait Time, Primary Care Provider Status, and Patient Demographics are Associated With Nonattendance at Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic.

GOALS: We intended to identify the factors associated with missed appointments at a gastroenterology (GI) clinic in an academic setting. BACKGROUND: Missed clinic appointments reduce clinic efficiency, waste resources, and increase costs. Limited data exist on subspecialty clinic attendance. STUDY: We performed a case-control study using data from the electronic health record of patients scheduled for an appointment at the adult GI clinic at the Banner University Medical Center between March and October of 2014. Patients who missed their appointment during the study period served as cases. Controls were randomly selected from patients who completed their appointment during the study period. Analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 2331 scheduled clinic appointments, 195 (8.4%) were missed appointments. Longer waiting time from referral to scheduled appointment was significantly associated with missed appointment (AOR=1.014; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02; P<0.001). Patients with primary care providers (PCPs) were less likely to miss their appointment than those without PCPs (AOR=0.35; 95% CI, 0.18-0.66; P=0.001). Among patient demographic characteristics, ethnicity and marital status were associated with missed appointment. CONCLUSIONS: Wait time, ethnicity, marital status, and PCP status were associated with missed GI clinic appointments. Further investigations are needed to assess the effects of intervention strategies directed at reducing appointment wait time and increasing PCP-based care.