Development of salient medication reminders to facilitate information transfer during transition from inpatient to primary care: the Delphi process.

OBJECTIVE: Transitional care is important to successful hospital discharge. Providing patients with a clear and concise summary of medication-related information can help improve outcomes, in particular, among older adults. The present study aimed to propose a framework for the development of salient medication reminders (SMR), which include drug-related risks and precautions, using the Delphi process. DESIGN: Identification of potential SMR statements for 80% of medication types used by older adult patients discharged from geriatric medicine departments, followed by a Delphi survey and expert panel discussion. SETTINGS: Medical and geriatric departments of public hospitals in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: A panel of 13 geriatric medical experts. OUTCOME MEASURE: A Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) points, scoring item relevance, importance and clarity. The minimum of 70% consensus was required for each statement to be included. RESULTS: The expert panel achieved consensus through the Delphi process on 80 statements for 44 medication entities. Subsequently, the SMR steering group endorsed the inclusion of these statements in the SMR to be disseminated among older adults at the time of discharge from geriatric medicine departments. CONCLUSIONS: The Delphi process contributed to the development of SMR for older adult patients discharged from public hospitals in Hong Kong. Patient experience with and staff response to the SMR were assessed at four hospitals before implementation at all public hospitals.

Epidemiology and Natural History of Elderly-onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results From a Territory-wide Hong Kong IBD Registry.

BACKGROUND: Elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], defined as age ≥60 at diagnosis, is increasing worldwide. We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and natural history of elderly-onset IBD patients with those of adult-onset IBD patients. METHODS: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD from 1981 to 2016 were identified from a territory-wide Hong Kong IBD registry involving 13 hospitals. Demographics, comorbidities, clinical features, and outcomes of elderly-onset IBD patients were compared with those of adult-onset IBD patients. RESULTS: A total of 2413 patients were identified, of whom 270 [11.2%] had elderly-onset IBD. Median follow-up duration was 111 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 68-165 months). Ratio of ulcerative colitis [UC]: Crohn's disease [CD] was higher in elderly-onset IBD than in adult-onset IBD patients [3.82:1 vs 1.39:1; p <0.001]. Elderly-onset CD had less perianal involvement [5.4% vs 25.4%; p <0.001] than adult-onset CD. Elderly-onset IBD patients had significantly lower cumulative use of immunomodulators [p = 0.001] and biologics [p = 0.04]. Elderly-onset IBD was associated with higher risks of: cytomegalovirus colitis (odds ratio [OR]: 3.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.92-4.89; p <0.001); herpes zoster [OR: 2.42; 95% CI 1.22-4.80; p = 0.12]; and all cancer development [hazard ratio: 2.97; 95% CI 1.84-4.79; p <0.001]. They also had increased number of overall hospitalisations [OR: 1.14; 95% CI 1.09-1.20; p <0.001], infections-related hospitalisation [OR: 1.87; 95% CI 1.47-2.38; p <0.001], and IBD-related hospitalisation [OR: 1.09; 95% CI 1.04- 1.15; p = 0.001] compared with adult-onset IBD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly-onset IBD was associated with increased risk of infections and cancer development, and increased infection- and IBD-related hospitalisations. Specific therapeutic strategies to target this special population are needed.

Cancer risk and chemoprevention in Chinese inflammatory bowel disease patients: a population-based cohort study.

Background and aim: Role of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), statin and aspirin in reducing cancer risks in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains controversial. We aimed to examine chemo-preventive effects of these drugs in all cancers in IBD in population-based setting.Methods: IBD patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 were identified from the Hong Kong IBD Registry and followed from IBD diagnosis until first cancer occurrence. Primary outcome was cancer development ≥6 months after IBD diagnosis. Adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated with Cox proportional hazards model. Additional effects of statin and aspirin on chemoprevention were also assessed.Results: Amongst 2103 IBD patients (857 Crohn's disease, 1246 ulcerative colitis; mean age 40.0 ± 15.6; 60.3% male) with 16,856 person-years follow-up, 48 patients (2.3%) developed cancer. The 5-r, 10-r and 15-year (95% CI) cumulative incidence of cancer were 1% (0.6 - 1.5%), 2.8 (2.0 - 3.9%) and 4.8 (3.4 - 6.5%), respectively. Total 1891 (89.9%) and 222 (10.6%) patients have received one or more prescriptions of 5-ASA and statin respectively. In multivariable analysis adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, IBD type and use of other medications, use of 5-ASA or statin was not associated with a reduced risk of cancer development (5-ASA: aHR 1.22, 95% CI: 0.60-2.48, p = .593; statin: aHR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14-1.59, p = .227). Adding aspirin was not associated with a lowered cancer risk (aHR 1.18, 95% CI: 0.32-4.35, p = .799).Conclusion: Use of 5-ASA was not associated with a lowered cancer risk in Chinese IBD patients. Addition of statin/aspirin provided no additional benefit.Key summaryInflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are associated with increased risk of both intestinal and extra- intestinal cancers.Various medications including 5-aminosalicylate acid (5-ASA), statins and aspirin have been studied for their chemoprevention effects. However, most studies focused on colorectal cancer only and showed conflicting evidence. No studies so far looked at the effects of these medications on all cancer development in IBD.The 5-, 10- and 15-year (95% confidence interval) cumulative incidence of cancer in Chinese IBD patients were 1 (0.6-1.5%), 2.8 (2.0-3.9%) and 4.8 (3.4-6.5%), respectively.Use of 5-ASA was not associated with a lowered cancer risk in Chinese IBD patients. Addition of statin/aspirin provided no additional benefit.

Stopping anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in patients with perianal Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Little is known of the outcome of patients with perianal Crohn's disease after stopping anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. AIM: To evaluate the rate of relapse in perianal Crohn's disease (CD) after stopping anti-TNF therapy. METHODS: Consecutive perianal CD patients treated with anti-TNF therapy with subsequent discontinuation were retrieved from prospective inflammatory bowel disease database of institutes in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore from 1997 to June 2019. Cumulative probability of perianal CD relapse was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 89 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 65-173 months), 44 of the 78 perianal CD patients (56.4%) relapsed after stopping anti-TNF, defined as increased fistula drainage or recurrence of previously healed fistula, after stopping anti-TNF therapy. Cumulative probabilities of perianal CD relapse were 50.8%, 72.6% and 78.0% at 12, 36 and 60 months, respectively. Younger age at diagnosis of CD [adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.09; P = .04] was associated with a higher chance of perianal CD relapse. Among those with perianal CD relapse (n = 44), retreatment with anti-TNF induced remission in 24 of 29 patients (82.8%). Twelve (27.3%) patients required defunctioning surgery and one (2.3%) required proctectomy. Maintenance with thiopurine was not associated with a reduced likelihood of relapse [HR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.58-2.12; P = .77]. Among the 17 patients who achieved radiological remission of perianal CD, five (35.3%) developed relapse after stopping anti-TNF therapy after a median of 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the perianal CD patients developed relapse after stopping anti-TNF therapy. Most regained response after resuming anti-TNF. However, more than one-fourth of the perianal CD patients with relapse required defunctioning surgery. Radiological assessment before stopping anti-TNF is crucial in perianal CD.

Significant Medical and Surgical Morbidity in Perianal Crohn's Disease: Results from a Territory-Wide Study.

BACKGROUND: The presence of perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease [CD] denotes increased disease aggressiveness. We studied the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of perianal CD [PCD] using the Hong Kong territory-wide IBD Registry [HKIBDR]. METHODS: Consecutive patients with PCD were identified from the HKIBDR, and disease characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were analysed. The risks for medical and surgical therapies were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Among 981 patients with CD with 10530 patient-years of follow-up, 283 [28.8%] had perianal involvement, of which 120 [42.4%] were as first presentation. The mean age at diagnosis of PCD was 29.1 years, and 78.8% were male. The median follow-up duration was 106 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 65-161 months]. Perianal fistula [84.8%] and perianal abscess [52.7%] were the two commonest forms. Male, younger age at diagnosis of CD, and penetrating phenotypes were associated with development of PCD in multivariate analysis. Of 242 patients with fistulizing PCD, 70 [29.2%] required ≥5 courses of antibiotics, and 98 [40.5%] had ≥2 surgical procedures. Nine patients required defunctioning surgery and 4 required proctectomy. Eighty-four patients [34.7%] received biologics. Cumulative probabilities for use of biologics were 4.7%, 5.8%, and 8.6% at 12 months, 36 months, and 96 months, respectively, while the probabilities for surgery were 67.2%, 71.6%, and 77.7%, respectively. Five mortalities were recorded, including 2 cases of anal cancer, 2 CD-related complications, and one case of pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Over 40% of CD patients presented with perianal disease at diagnosis. Patients with PCD had poor outcome, with young age of onset, multiple antibiotic use, and repeated surgery.

Cancer Risk in 2621 Chinese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on cancer risk in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have yielded inconsistent results. We conducted a population-based study to determine the risk of cancer in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Using a territory-wide IBD registry in Hong Kong, we identified 2621 patients with IBD and no history of cancer from 1990 to 2016. We followed them from diagnosis until either September 2016, cancer development, proctocolectomy, or death. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of overall cancer and site-specific cancers were calculated. RESULTS: Of 2621 patients with IBD (1108 CD; 1603 UC; median age, 49 yr; 59.5% men) followed for 26,234 person-years, 88 patients developed cancer after IBD diagnosis. Patients with CD had an increased risk of anorectal cancers (SIR 4.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.84-9.14) and hematological cancers (SIR 3.86, 95% CI, 1.61-9.27) including leukemia (SIR 5.98; 95% CI, 1.93-18.54). Nonmelanoma skin cancer was significantly increased in both CD and UC (CD: SIR 13.88; 95% CI, 1.95-98.51; UC: SIR 9.05; 95% CI, 2.26-36.19). Patients with CD had a higher risk of renal-cell carcinoma (SIR 6.89; 95% CI, 2.22-21.37), and patients with UC had a higher risk of prostate cancer (SIR 2.47; 95% CI, 1.24-4.95). CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based study, Chinese patients with CD are at an increased risk of anorectal cancers and hematological cancers compared with the general population. A higher risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer was also observed in CD and UC. Cancer surveillance should be considered.

Real-life efficacy and safety of paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir in chronic hepatitis C patients in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In registration studies, combination therapy of paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir (PrOD) with and without ribavirin for 12-24 weeks can achieve > 90% sustained virological response (SVR) for genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, data in Asia is scanty. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients in Hong Kong. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from six local hospitals that have prescribed PrOD with and without ribavirin to patients with genotype 1 chronic HCV infection as part of a global compassionate program. RESULTS: Among 41 patients treated, 35 (85%) patients had genotype 1b HCV infection, 6 (15%) had co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus, 35 (85%) failed previous peginterferon and ribavirin therapy, 25 (61%) had compensated liver cirrhosis, and 3 (7%) had liver transplantation. Thirty-five (85%) patients received 12-week treatment and six patients received 24-week treatment; 26 (63%) patients received ribavirin combination. Thirty-nine (95%; 95% confidence interval 88.5-100%) patients had undetectable HCV RNA at 12-week post-treatment, that is, SVR. The two patients who did not develop SVR discontinued treatment prematurely; both of them were treatment experienced with liver cirrhosis complicated by acute renal failure unrelated to the treatment of PrOD and ribavirin. No patient had hepatic decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: Paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir with or without ribavirin is effective and safe in patients with genotype 1 HCV infection in real-life clinical setting in Hong Kong.

Infection-related hospitalizations in the first year after inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: With the rapid increase in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asia, the natural course of the early phase of disease in these patients remains poorly defined. This study aimed to determined the incidence and characteristics of infection-related hospitalization in the first year in patients newly diagnosed with IBD in Hong Kong SAR, China. METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed with IBD and enrolled in the territory-wide Hong Kong IBD Registry were identified. Details of their hospitalization within the first 12 months after diagnosis were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Altogether 433 newly diagnosed IBD patients were enrolled, including 188 with Crohn's disease (CD), 230 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 15 with IBD-unclassified (IBD-U). Among them, 110 (25.4%) had at least one unscheduled hospitalization in the first year and 34 (7.9%) had infection-related hospitalization, leading to 43 (23.4%) of total hospitalizations. Gastrointestinal tract (30.2%), respiratory tract (34.9%) and skin and soft tissues (11.6%) were the most common sites of infection. Bacterial and viral infections accounted for 46.7% and 20.8% of hospitalizations for infection, respectively. Common identified pathogens included Clostridium difficile (16.3%) and Cytomegalovirus (11.6%). Multivariate analysis found that patient's age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.06) and the presence of comorbidity (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.05-5.13) were significantly associated with hospitalization from infection in IBD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Infection-related hospitalizations were found in 7.9% of newly diagnosed IBD patients within the first year after diagnosis in Hong Kong, which accounted for about one-quarter of all unscheduled hospitalizations. Elder patients with concurrent illnesses were at higher risk.

Low-dose azathioprine is effective in maintaining remission in steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis: results from a territory-wide Chinese population-based IBD registry.

BACKGROUND: Whether low-dose azathioprine (AZA) is effective in maintaining remission in patients with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear. We assessed the efficacy and safety of low-dose AZA in a Chinese population with UC. METHODS: We identified steroid-dependent UC patients in clinical remission on AZA maintenance therapy from a territory-wide IBD Registry. Standard- and low-dose AZA were defined as at least 2 mg/kg/day and less than 2 mg/kg/day, respectively. Relapse rates were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared using log-rank test. RESULTS: Among 1226 UC patients, 128 (53% male, median duration on AZA 44 months) were included. Median maintenance AZA dose was 1.3 mg/kg/day. 97.7% of the patients were on concomitant oral 5-aminosalicylic acid. Cumulative relapse-free rates in patients on standard-dose and low-dose AZA were 71.2%, 52.8% and 45.2%, and 71.8%, 55.3% and 46.2% at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively (p = 0.871). Relapse rate within 12 months was higher in patients who withdrew compared with those who maintained on AZA (52.6% versus 29.4%; p = 0.045). Mean corpuscular volume increased after AZA therapy in both of the low-dose [median (interquartile range, IQR): 88.2 (81.4-92.2) versus 95.1 (90.1-100.9) fl, p < 0.001] and standard-dose subgroups [median (IQR) 86.8 (76.9-89.9) versus 94.7 (85.9-99.7) fl, p < 0.001]. Leukopenia occurred in 21.1% of the patients. Patients on standard dose had a higher risk for leukopenia than those on low-dose AZA [odds ratio (OR) 3.9, 95% CI 1.9-8.2, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: In the Chinese population, low-dose AZA is effective for maintaining remission in steroid-dependent UC patients. Standard-dose AZA was associated with more than threefold increased risk of leukopenia.

Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease from 1981 to 2014: Results from a Territory-Wide Population-Based Registry in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Asia, but population-based prevalence data are limited. This study examined IBD incidence and prevalence based on results of a territory-wide IBD registry in Hong Kong. METHODS: We collected data on 2575 patients with IBD (1541 ulcerative colitis [UC], 983 Crohn's disease [CD], 51 IBD unclassified) from 1981 to 2014 using hospital and territory-wide administrative coding system. Prevalence and incidence, disease phenotype, surgery, and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: Adjusted prevalence of IBD, UC, CD, and IBD unclassified per 100,000 individuals in 2014 were 44.0, 24.5, 18.6, and 0.9, respectively. Age-adjusted incidence of IBD per 100,000 individuals increased from 0.10 (95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.16) in 1985 to 3.12 (95% confidence interval, 2.88-3.38) in 2014. UC:CD incidence ratio reduced from 8.9 to 1.0 over 30 years (P < 0.001). A family history of IBD was reported in 3.0% of patients. Stricturing or penetrating disease was found in 41% and perianal disease in 25% of patients with CD. 5-aminosalicylate use was common in UC (96%) and CD (89%). Cumulative rates of surgery for CD were 20.3% at 1 year and 25.7% at 5 years, and the corresponding rates for UC were 1.8% and 2.1%, respectively. Mortality for CD and UC was not significantly different from the general population. CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based study in Hong Kong, prevalence of IBD is lower than in the west although comparable to that of other East Asian countries. Complicated CD is common. Overall mortality remains low in Asians with IBD.

Natural History of Elderly-onset Ulcerative Colitis: Results from a Territory-wide Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Data on the natural history of elderly-onset ulcerative colitis [UC] are limited. We aimed to investigate clinical features and outcomes of patients with elderly-onset UC. METHODS: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of UC between 1981 and 2013, from 13 hospitals within a territory-wide Hong Kong Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry, were included. Clinical features and outcomes of elderly-onset patients, defined as age ≥ 60 years at diagnosis, were compared with those of non-elderly-onset disease [< 60 years at diagnosis]. RESULTS: We identified 1225 patients, of whom 12.8% [157/1225; 56.1% male] had elderly-onset UC. Median duration of follow-up was 11 years [interquartile range, 6-16 years]. Age-specific incidence of elderly-onset UC increased from 0.1 per 100000 persons before 1991 to 1.3 per 100000 persons after 2010. There were more ex-smokers [32.2% vs. 12.2%, p < 0.001] and higher proportion of comorbidities [p < 0.001] in elderly-onset than non-elderly-onset patients. Disease extent, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants use, and colectomy rates were similar between the two groups. Elderly-onset disease was an independent risk factor for cytomegalovirus infection [odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.6-5.2, p < 0.001]. More elderly-onset patients had Clostridium difficile infection [11.0% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.007], hospitalisation for UC exacerbation [50.6% vs. 41.8%, p = 0.037], colorectal cancer [3.2% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.033], all-cause mortality [7.0% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.001], and UC-related mortality [1.9% vs. 0.2%, p = 0.017] than non-elderly-onset patients. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly-onset UC patients are increasing in number. These patients have higher risk of opportunistic infections, hospitalisation, colorectal cancer, and mortality than non-elderly-onset patients. Management and therapeutic strategies in this special group need careful attention.

Chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 responds better to pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy than genotype 1.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 is common in Hong Kong, especially among i.v. drug abusers. Responses of these patients to combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment were inconsistent and the numbers of patients involved in previous studies were small. We performed a retrospective study to compare the therapeutic responses of this regimen in patients infected with genotype 6 and genotype 1. METHODS: Seventy patients with either genotype 6 or genotype 1 were recruited. Both groups received 800-1200 mg of ribavirin daily plus either 180 mg of pegylated alpha-interferon-2a or 1.5 mg/kg pegylated alpha-interferon-2b weekly for 48 weeks. Their responses to treatments were compared. RESULTS: The early virological response to combination therapy of patients with genotype 6 was significantly better than that of genotype 1 (88.6% vs 74.3%, P = 0.03). Significant difference was also identified in the end of treatment response of the two genotypes (60% vs 81.4% for genotype 1 and 6, respectively; P = 0.005). The sustained virological response (SVR) to treatment in patients with genotype 6 was also significantly superior to that of patients with genotype 1 (75.7% vs 57.1%, P = 0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age of 55 years or less, genotypes of hepatitis C virus, liver biopsy staging and baseline hepatitis C virus RNA of 200,000 IU/mL or less were independent predictors for better SVR in this cohort. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 respond better to pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination treatment than patients with genotype 1.

Relaxation music decreases the dose of patient-controlled sedation during colonoscopy: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed to test the hypotheses that music decreases the dose of sedative medication required for colonoscopy and that the combination of music and patient-controlled sedation improves patient acceptance of colonoscopy. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five patients scheduled to undergo elective colonoscopy were randomized to receive 1 of 3 different modes of sedation: Group 1, a combination of music and patient-controlled sedation with a mixture of propofol and alfentanil; Group 2, patient-controlled sedation alone; Group 3, music alone with diazemuls and meperidine administered intravenously if requested by the patient. Each bolus of patient-controlled sedation delivered 4.8 mg propofol and 12 microg alfentenil. Music was provided by means of a portable compact disc machine with headphones. Outcome measures assessed immediately after colonoscopy and 24 hours later included dose of patient-controlled sedation used, complications, recovery time, pain score, satisfaction score, and willingness to repeat the procedure with the same mode of sedation. RESULTS: The mean (SD) dose of propofol used in Group 1 was significantly less than Group 2 (0.84 mg/kg [0.69 mg/kg] vs. 1.15 mg/kg [0.83 mg/kg]; p = 0.02, t test). The mean (SD) satisfaction score was higher in Group 1 (7.8 [2.1]) compared with Group 2 (6.8 [2.3]) and Group 3 (7.4 [2.3]) (p = 0.05, 1-way analysis of variance). The majority of patients in Group 1 were willing to repeat the same mode of sedation when queried immediately after colonoscopy (87%) and 24 hours later (75%), which was significantly different from the corresponding results in the other 2 groups; p = 0.04 and p < 0.01 respectively, chi-square test. CONCLUSIONS: Music can decrease the dose of sedative medication required for colonoscopy. The combination of music and patient-controlled sedation was the best-accepted mode of sedation among 3 groups.