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With an increasing number of available therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), little is known about patients’ attitudes regarding IBD-related direct-to-consumer advertising (IBD-DTCA) and its impact on treatment decisions in clinical practice. We administered a 58-item, mailed questionnaire to patients with IBD receiving Gastroenterology subspecialty care at a large academic health system. The survey assessed patient awareness and perception of IBD-DTCA and its effect on IBD treatment discussions and decisions. We used bivariate analysis to evaluate patient-level factors associated with awareness and favorable perception of IBD-DTCA. We achieved a response rate of 15.2% (n = 226 of 1486). Most patients (93.3%) reported awareness of IBD-DTCA, with adalimumab receiving the most exposure. A majority of respondents reported IBD-DTCA made them more aware of treatments they otherwise would not know about (53.6%), provided information in a balanced manner (63.5%), and taught them about new potential risks and side effects (64.5%). Patients without a college degree and those with a household income less than $75 k per year perceived IBD-DTCA more favorably. However, IBD-DTCA rarely changed IBD management, with only 7.6% of respondents having a discussion with their provider about the advertised drug and only two (0.9%) being initiated on the advertised drug. IBD patients were aware of IBD-DTCA and perceived it favorably; however, IBD-DTCA rarely led to patient-provider discussions or changes in treatment regimen.

OBJECTIVE Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with significant morbidity and economic burden. The variable course of IBD creates a need for predictors of clinical outcomes and health resource utilization (HRU) to guide treatment decisions. We aimed to identify clinical, serological or genetic markers associated with inpatient resource utilization in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS Patients with IBD with available genetic and serological data who had at least one emergency department visit or hospitalization in a 3-year period were included. The primary outcome measure was HRU, as measured by the All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group classification system. Univariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to identify the associations with HRU. RESULTS Altogether 858 (562 CD and 296 UC) patients were included. Anti-CBir1 seropositivity (P = 0.002, effect size [ES]: 0.762, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.512-1.012) and low socioeconomic status (P = 0.005, ES: 1.620 [95% CI 1.091-2.149]) were independently associated with a high HRU. CD diagnosis (P = 0.006, ES: -0.701 [95% CI -0.959 to -0.443]) was independently associated with a low inpatient HRU. CONCLUSION In patients with IBD who required at least one emergency department visit or hospitalization, anti-CBir1 antibody status may be a useful biomarker of HRU when formulating management strategies to reduce disease complications and resource utilization.

Background Increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with systemic inflammation through amplified production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and interleukin-6. Higher visceral fat index (VFI), which is the ratio of VAT to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and reflects the degree of excess VAT in relation to SAT, is associated with complex IBD. However, its relevance to treatment response is unclear. We aim to evaluate the effect of VFI on treatment response and risk of surgery in IBD patients starting anti-TNF therapy. Methods IBD patients starting anti-TNF agents between 1/1/2009 to 7/31/2019 at two academic medical centers were included. Three dimensional VAT and SAT volumes were measured from CT scans with Aquarius (iNtuition, Foster City, CA). VFI was calculated with the ratio of VAT:SAT. Patients were categorized by predefined VFI cutoffs: 0.67. Primary outcomes included composite endpoint of corticosteroid-free response (CFR) at 6 and 12 months defined by meeting one of the following: a) clinical response based on Harvey Bradshaw Index for Crohn’s disease (CD) or Lichtiger score for ulcerative colitis (UC), b) endoscopic improvement based on ulcer healing for CD and Mayo score for UC compared to baseline, or c) 50% improvement or normalization of CRP or fecal calprotectin. Secondary outcomes included IBD-related surgery at 6 and 12 months. We performed a multivariable logistic regression on CFR and surgery, adjusting for age, gender, IBD diagnosis, disease duration, active tobacco use, and immunomodulator exposure, to calculate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results We included 181 patients. Table 1 summarizes differences in baseline characteristics. There were no differences in disease severity or activity. There were no differences in CFR at 6 and 12 months (Figure 1a and b). With respect to surgery within 6 months, patients with VFI >0.67 were significantly more likely to undergo surgery (aOR: 41.92 [95%CI 5.09–345.59]), but no difference in patients with VFI 0.33–0.66 was observed when compared to patients with VFI 0.67 were more likely to undergo surgery (aOR: 15.55 [95%CI 2.85–80.56]) but no difference was observed in patients with VFI 0.33–0.66 compared to patients with VFI Conclusion In this retrospective, multicenter, cohort study, we found higher VFI is associated with increased odds of surgery in IBD patients starting anti-TNF therapy. If confirmed by future prospective studies, VFI may be employed as a biomarker to help identify IBD patients at risk for medically refractory disease and would benefit from an early surgical referral, especially considering the growing application of artificial intelligence in medical imaging.

Background Biological therapies are effective for inducing and maintaining remission in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but patients often require changes in biological agents over the course of their illness. We sought to evaluate the rate of and reasons for discontinuing biological agents and to identify risk factors for their discontinuation. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study across 4 VA hospital systems (Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Ann Arbor, MI; Richmond, VA). Patients with IBD who were started on biological therapy between 1998 and 2015 were identified, and their medical records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of IBD and to collect study data. Results Of 1969 patients with IBD; 256 were treated with 346 courses of therapy. By 6 months after initiation of therapy, 82 (24%) had stopped the biological agent. Among patients starting their first biological agent, 21.5% had stopped by 6 months. Patients taking a concomitant thiopurine and those with ileocolonic disease or a nonpenetrating, nonstricturing phenotype were less likely to discontinue biological therapy, whereas those taking 5-ASA concomitantly were more likely to discontinue biological therapy. The most common reasons for discontinuation were primary nonresponse (40%) and adverse drug reactions (29%). Conclusions In conclusion, in a large multicenter VA cohort, we found that 24% of patients who are prescribed a biological stop their treatment early, most commonly for primary nonresponse or for an adverse drug reaction. Consideration should be given to treating patients with a concomitant thiopurine if at all possible, as this reduces the likelihood of early discontinuation.

Predicting the risk of flare-ups for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is difficult. Alterations in gut endothelial regulation of mucosal immune homeostasis might be early events leading to flares in IBD. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), in particular, are important in maintaining endothelial integrity and regulating the migration of leukocytes into the gut. We evaluated the mRNA expression of various tight junction proteins, with an emphasis on CAMs, in 40 patients with IBD in clinical remission. Patients were retrospectively assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months after baseline colonoscopy, and at the end of all available follow-up (maximum 65 mo), for flare events to determine whether baseline mRNA expression was associated with subsequent flares. At all follow-up points, the baseline expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), ICAM-3, and VCAM-1 was significantly higher in patients who flared than in those who did not (2.4-fold elevation, P=0.012 for PECAM-1; 1.9-fold increased, P=0.03 for ICAM-3; and 1.4-fold increased, P=0.02 for VCAM-1). PECAM-1 and ICAM-3 expression was significantly increased in patients who flared as early as 6 months after baseline colonoscopy. In contrast, there were no significant differences between patients with and without flares in baseline expression of other CAMs (ESAM, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, E-selectin, P-selectin, and MadCAM1). Increased expression of PECAM-1, ICAM-3, and VCAM-1 in colonic biopsies from patients with IBD in clinical remission is associated with subsequent flares. This suggests that increases in the expression of these proteins may be early events that lead to flares in patients with IBD.

Breath testing (BT) has gained interest for diagnosing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in IBD patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) overlap. We aim to characterize the rate of SIBO and BT gas patterns in IBD patients with IBS-like symptoms compared to non-IBD patients. A database of 14,847 consecutive lactulose BTs was developed from patients with IBS-like symptoms between November 2005 and October 2013. BTs were classified as normal, H2 predominant, CH4 predominant, and flatline based on criteria established from the literature. BT data linkage with electronic health records and chart review identified IBD patients along with disease phenotype, location, severity, and antibiotic response. Poisson loglinear model evaluated differences in gas patterns between the two groups. After excluding patients with repeat breath tests, we identified 486 IBD and 10,505 non-IBD patients with at least one BT. Positive BT was present in 57% (n = 264) of IBD patients. Crohn’s disease (odds ratio (OR) 0.21, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11–0.38]) and ulcerative colitis (OR 0.39, [95% CI 0.22–0.70]) patients were less likely to produce excess CH4. IBD patients were more likely to have flatline BT (OR 1.82, [95% CI 1.20–2.77]). In IBD patients with SIBO, 57% improved symptomatically with antibiotics. In a cohort of IBD patients with IBS-like symptoms, a high rate of patients had positive BT and symptomatic improvement with antibiotics. In IBD, methanogenesis is suppressed and flatline BT is more frequent, suggesting excess hydrogenotrophic bacteria. These findings suggest methanogenic and hydrogenotrophic microorganisms as potential targets for microbiome-driven biomarkers and therapies.

Background Data describing the effect of obesity on anti-TNF treatment response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are conflicting. This likely reflects the shortcomings of using body mass index (BMI) to capture an individual’s adipose stores. Recent studies have found visceral adipose tissue (VAT), not BMI, is associated with IBD-related complications and post-operative recurrence. However, the relationship between VAT and treatment response is unclear. We aim to evaluate the effect of VAT on anti-TNF treatment response. Methods IBD patients starting anti-TNF agents between 1/1/2009 to 7/31/2019 at two academic medical centers were included. Three-dimensional VAT volume was measured from CT scans with Aquarius (iNtuition, Foster City, CA). Patients were categorized by predefined volume cutoffs: 3000cm3. Primary outcomes included composite endpoint of corticosteroid-free response (CFR) at 6 and 12 months defined by meeting one of the following: a) clinical response based on Harvey Bradshaw Index for Crohn’s disease (CD) or Lichtiger score for ulcerative colitis (UC) b) endoscopic improvement based on ulcer healing for CD and Mayo score for UC compared to baseline or c) 50% improvement or normalization of CRP or fecal calprotectin. Secondary outcomes included IBD-related surgery at 6 and 12 months. We performed a multivariable logistic regression on CFR and surgery, adjusting for age, gender, IBD diagnosis, disease duration, active tobacco use, and immunomodulator exposure, to calculate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results We included 182 patients. Table 1 summarizes differences in baseline characteristics. There were no differences in CFR at 6 months. Compared to those with VAT volume 3000cm3 (aOR 0.45, [95%CI 0.13–1.50], Figure 1b). With respect to surgery within 6 months, patients with volume >3000cm3 were significantly more likely to undergo surgery than those with VAT volume 3000cm3 having the highest risk of surgery (aOR: 3.55 [95%CI 0.87–14.61], Figure 1c and d). Conclusion In this retrospective, multicenter, cohort study, we found VAT influences treatment response but not in a dose-dependent manner as previously hypothesized. If confirmed by future prospective studies, VAT may be employed as a biomarker to better inform treatment decisions and improve outcomes, especially considering the growth of artificial intelligence in medical imaging.

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients often continue to experience nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms despite quiescent disease. Unlike non-IBD patients, IBD patients with dyssynergic defecation (DD) may present with various symptoms such as diarrhea, fecal incontinence, constipation, and rectal discomfort. Despite its importance and treatability, DD in IBD patients is not well recognized in practice. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of DD in IBD patients with ongoing defecatory symptoms. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (from 1966 through February 2017) to identify relevant studies on the prevalence, diagnostic methods, or management of DD in IBD patients with and without ileal pouch-anal anastomoses (IPAAs). A random effects model was used to calculate the pooled estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics, Cochran Q statistic, and sensitivity analyses. Results Seven studies (n = 442) were included. In patients with ongoing defecatory symptoms, the prevalence of DD without IPAA ranged from 45% to 97%, and in patients with IPAA, it ranged from 25% to 75%. The prevalence of DD in IPAA patients with and without pouchitis ranged from 17% to 67% and 29% to 50%, respectively. The pooled response rate to biofeedback therapy in patients without IPAA was 70% (95% CI, 55%-84%; I2 = 95%; P < 0.01), and it was 86% (95% CI, 67%-98%; I2 = 61%; P = 0.05) in those with IPAA. Conclusions Despite limited data, the current literature suggests that DD is highly prevalent in active or quiescent IBD patients with ongoing defecatory symptoms and is responsive to biofeedback therapy. Although more studies are needed, DD should be considered in IBD patients with persistent defecatory symptoms.