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Background: The specific contribution of anti-TNF therapy to the onset of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains uncertain. Thus, the purpose of this nested case-control study was to explore whether the use of anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased risk of HZ., Methods: Using the Regie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec, we identified incident cases of IBD between 1998 and 2015. We matched IBD cases of HZ with up to 10 IBD HZ-free controls on year of cohort entry and follow-up. Current use was defined as a prescription for anti-TNF therapy 60 days before the index date, with nonuse as the comparator. We conducted conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for potential confounders., Results: The cohort consisted of 15,454 incident IBD patients. Over an average follow-up of 5.0 years, 824 patients were diagnosed with HZ (incidence of 9.3 per 1000 person-years). Relative to nonuse, current use of anti-TNF therapy was associated with an overall increased risk of HZ (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1). The risk was increased among those older than 50 years (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6) and those additionally using steroids and immunosuppressants (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 2.3-7.2)., Conclusions: Use of anti-TNF therapy was associated with an increased risk of HZ among patients with IBD, particularly among those older than 50 years and those on combination therapy. Prevention strategies for HZ ought to be considered for younger IBD patients commencing treatment., (© 2021 Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) have high health care expenditures because of medications, hospitalizations, and surgeries. We evaluated disease outcomes and treatment algorithms of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Québec, comparing periods before and after 2010., Methods: The province of Québec's public health administrative database was used to identify newly diagnosed patients with IBD between 1996 and 2015. The primary and secondary outcomes included time to and probability of first and second IBD-related hospitalizations, first and second major surgery, and medication exposures. Medication prescriptions were collected from the public prescription database., Results: We identified 34,644 newly diagnosed patients with IBD (CD = 59.5%). The probability of the first major surgery increased after 2010 in patients with CD (5 years postdiagnosis before and after 2010: 8% [SD = 0.2%] vs 15% [SD = 0.6%]; P < 0.0001) and patients with UC (6% [SD = 0.2%] vs 10% [SD = 0.6%] ;P < 0.0001). The probability of the second major surgery was unchanged in patients with CD. Hospitalization rates remained unchanged. Patients on anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) medications had the lowest probability of hospitalizations (overall 5-year probability in patients with IBD stratified by maximal therapeutic step: 5-aminosalicylic acids 37% [SD = 0.6%]; anti-TNFs 31% [SD = 1.8%]; P < 0.0001). Anti-TNFs were more commonly prescribed for patients with CD after 2010 (4% [SD = 0.2%] vs 16% [SD = 0.6%]; P < 0.0001) in the public health insurance plan, especially younger patients. Corticosteroid exposure was unchanged before and after 2010. Immunosuppressant use was low but increased after 2010. The use of 5-ASAs was stable in patients with UC but decreased in patients with CD., Conclusions: The probability of first and second hospitalizations remained unchanged in Québec and the probability of major surgery was low overall but did increase despite the higher and earlier use of anti-TNFs., (© 2020 Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Variation in clinical practice exists in many aspects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. Our aim was to develop a comprehensive set of quality indicators (QIs) to be measured in view of improving the quality of IBD care provided in clinical practice. This initiative was part of a global Canadian quality initiative PACE (Promoting Access and Care through Centres of Excellence)., Methods: A modified RAND appropriateness method was used to identify and rate structure, process, outcome, and patient-derived QIs of IBD care. The process included a comprehensive literature search yielding a broad list of QIs, the online selection of QIs by a core expert panel, the selection of patient-derived QIs from 4 patient focus groups, and the subsequent selection of QIs by a multidisciplinary panel, followed by a moderated in-person multidisciplinary meeting during which each indicator was rated for importance and feasibility of measurement. Predetermined cutoffs for mean score and degree of disagreement were used to select the final list of QIs., Results: Forty-five QIs, including 6 that were patient-derived, were selected. Nine structure QIs addressed aspects related to the services and specialist care offered at an IBD unit or clinic. Thirty process indicators included administrative and workflow processes, features related to IBD therapy, surveillance, vaccination, and risk management. Six outcome QIs included measures of healthcare utilization, steroid use, and patient satisfaction., Conclusions: Forty-five QIs including patient-derived indicators were selected through an iterative process. These indicators can be used to measure and improve the quality of care provided to IBD patients. 10.1093/ibd/izy259&#95;video1izy259.video15828250213001.

Background: Mortality rates greater than in the general population have been reported in the population with Crohn's disease (CD), but reports for ulcerative colitis (UC) are conflicting. Trends with time were rarely described. We aimed to assess whether CD and UC mortality in Québec differs from that in the general population and to describe the trends over a 10-year observation period., Methods: This is a population-based cohort study using the Québec administrative health databases and death certificates registry. All-cause and cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed for 1999 to 2008. A time trend analysis was used to assess changes in the SMR with the calendar year., Results: All-cause mortality was significantly increased in CD and UC compared to the general population: SMR: CD 1.45 (95% confidence interval: 1.34-1.58), UC 1.21 (95% confidence interval: 1.12-1.32). In CD, mortality from digestive conditions, all neoplasms, digestive neoplasms, and colorectal, lymphatic, and lung cancer was significantly higher than in the general population. In UC, mortality from digestive, respiratory, and infectious conditions was also significantly increased. In both CD and UC, there was a decrease with time in all-cause SMRs and in digestive conditions, digestive neoplasms, colorectal cancer, and infectious diseases. SMRs for lung cancer and respiratory conditions increased over time in CD., Conclusions: All-cause mortality was significantly higher in CD and UC populations than in the general population. However, a decreasing trend with time was observed in all-cause and some cause-specific SMRs. In CD, SMRs for lung cancer and respiratory conditions increased during the observation period.

Background: Immunomodulatory medications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been associated with an increased risk of developing certain malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, colorectal cancer and lymphoma associated with immunomodulators and biologics in patients with IBD., Methods: A nested case-control study was carried out using the provincial health insurance database of Québec, Canada (RAMQ/MedECHO)., Results: A total of 41,176 patients with IBD were identified of whom 19,582 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. Treatment with thiopurine for more than 5 years was associated with a significantly increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (odds ratio: 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.54). Immunomodulator treatment was not associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (odds ratio: 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-1.41). Neither immunomodulators nor anti-TNF-α agents were associated with an increased risk of melanoma or colorectal cancer., Conclusions: In a large provincial IBD cohort, treatment with immunomodulators for more than 5 years was associated with an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, whereas the risk of lymphoma, melanoma, and colorectal cancer was not increased. No association was found between the risk of the evaluated malignancies and anti-TNF-α medications.

Background: Among 10 provinces in Canada, Québec has the second highest incidence of Crohn's disease (CD), based on data collected more than a decade ago. To date, there are no reports on the occurrence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and no updates on the occurrence of CD in Québec. We sought to describe trends in the annual incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in Québec during 2001 to 2008., Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the administrative health databases of Québec. IBD cases were identified using a validated case definition requiring at least 1 hospitalization or 4 physician claims within a 2-year period. Incident cases were defined as individuals who had been free of inflammatory bowel disease for at least 2 years before the 2-year time span of the case definition., Results: We identified 24,377 CD and 15,346 UC cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 39 and 46 years for CD and UC, respectively. There was a significant decline in the annual incidence from 2001 to 2008 for both CD (P < 0.003) and UC (P < 0.001). No significant change with time was found in pediatric cases. The point prevalence in 2008 was 277 CD and 164 UC cases per 100,000 population. The average incidence was 17.4 CD cases per 100,000 person-years and 10.1 UC cases per 100,000 person-years. There was no predominance of urban or rural cases for either CD or UC., Conclusions: During 2001 to 2008, annual incidence for both CD and UC declined in Québec. There was no significant change with time in incidence for pediatric cases.