Trends of inflammatory bowel disease from the Global Burden of Disease Study (1990-2019).

BACKGROUND: The global burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is reportedly increasing. Methodologies and datasets are routinely updated, allowing for more accurate estimates to guide healthcare policy. METHODS: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) dataset was accessed and the trends in IBD at the global and regional levels from 1990 to 2019 were estimated for incidence, prevalence, deaths, years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100,000 population. The three decadal trends of the disease measures were calculated. RESULTS: In 2019, there were 4.9 million (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI] 4.3-5.5) cases of IBD globally. The age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates decreased from 73.23 (95% UI 63.8-83.6) and 6.1 (95% UI 5.3-6.9) in 1990 to 59.2 (95% UI 52.7-66.4) and 4.9 (95% UI 4.4-5.6) in 2019, respectively. Like prior estimates, the highest age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates occurred in North America, but the lowest rates were reported in Oceania (209.5 [195.4-224.4] and 24.5 [22.6-26.7] and 3.87 [3.1-4.7] and 0.5 [0.5-0.7], respectively) and not the Caribbean, as previously reported. High socio-demographic index (SDI) locations had the highest age-standardized prevalence rate, though the rates declined in 2019 compared to 1990. The age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates increased in middle, low middle and low SDI quintiles over the three decades. The age-standardized rates for deaths, DALYs, YLD and YLL decreased globally from 1990 to 2019. Between 1990 and 2019 the total number of patients with IBD in India doubled from 0.13 million (95% UI 0.10-0.16) to 0.27 million (95% UI 0.21-0.33) with age-standardized incidence rate increasing from 2.23 (95% UI 1.85-2.73) to 2.34 (95% UI 1.95-2.86). CONCLUSION: This analysis of the GBD 2019 database demonstrates that the overall global burden of IBD is lower than previously estimated, but an increasing disease burden is observed in the middle and low-SDI locations.

Maintaining infliximab induced clinical remission with azathioprine and 5-aminosalicylates in acute severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis has lower cost and high efficacy (MIRACLE): a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infliximab (IFX) has been used to induce and maintain remission in patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Long-term use of biologics in developing countries is limited by high cost and frequent side effects. An optimal maintenance strategy in these patients needs to be established. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of maintenance of clinical remission with combination of azathioprine (AZA) and 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) in patients with severe steroidrefractory UC where IFX (5 mg/kg intravenously at weeks 0, 2, 6) had been used only as an induction therapy was done at 2 centers in India. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients maintaining corticosteroid-free sustained clinical remission (SCR) at the end of study period. Rates of relapse and cost of therapy were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 137 patients who received rescue IFX induction therapy, 77 (56.2%) achieved clinical remission (mean age 34.81 ± 13.32 years, 68.83% males, median follow-up 4 years, range 3 months to 6 years) and were included. Cumulative corticosteroid-free SCR was maintained in 68%, 59%, 42%, and 35% patients at 1, 2, 4, and 6 years respectively. Sixty-seven relapses were observed in 33 patients. Majority of the relapses (45/67, 67.16%) occurred within first 2 years of follow-up. Two relapses were managed with re-induction with IFX, one required colectomy, whereas all other responded to repeat course(s) of corticosteroids. Annual per capita maintenance therapy with 5-ASA and AZA was cheaper by US$ 4,526 compared to maintaining remission with IFX. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical remission achieved with IFX induction therapy in severe steroid-refractory UC can be sustained over long time with a combination of AZA and 5-ASA.

Clinical Predictors of response to Faecal Microbiota Transplantation in patients with active ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) has been shown to be effective for induction of remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC). At present, clinical factors impacting the response to FMT in UC remain unclear. METHODS: Patients with active UC treated with multisession FMT via colonoscopy at weeks 0, 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22, were analysed. Response to FMT was defined as achievement of corticosteroid free clinical remission at week 30. Patient and disease characteristics were evaluated to determine the predictors of response to FMT. RESULTS: Out of 140 patients with active UC treated with FMT, 93 patients [mean age 34.96±11.27 years, 62.36% males (n=58), mean Mayo clinic score 8.07±2.00] who completed the multi-session FMT protocol were analysed. Fifty-seven (61.29%) patients achieved clinical remission. Younger age (OR for age 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.97, p=0.001), moderate (Mayo clinic score 6-9) disease severity (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.12 to 8.06, p=0.025) and endoscopic Mayo score 2 (OR 5.55, 95% CI 2.18-14.06, p<0.001) were significant predictors of remission on univariate analysis. Younger age, disease extent E2 and endoscopic mayo score 2 (OR 0.925, 95% CI 0.88-0.97, p=0.002; OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.01-8.25, p=0.04 and OR 8.43, 95% CI 2.38-29.84, p=0.001, respectively) were associated with clinical remission on multivariate logistic regression. A mathematical model (nomogram) was developed for estimating the probability of remission with FMT protocol. CONCLUSION: Younger age, disease extent E2, and endoscopic mayo score 2 significantly predict achievement of clinical remission with FMT in active UC. The prediction model can help in selecting individuals for FMT. Validation in larger cohorts is needed.