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Safety of biologics in inflammatory bowel disease patients with COVID-19

Simcha Weissman1, Muhammad Aziz2, Wade-Lee Smith2

  • 1Department of Medicine, Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ, USA. Simchaweissman@gmail.com.

International Journal of Colorectal Disease
|June 16, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Biologic therapy is safe for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found no increased risk of severe coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) outcomes, including ICU admission or mortality, for IBD patients on biologics.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) have concerns regarding increased risk of severe coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) due to their condition or biologic medications.
  • This study addresses the safety of biologic therapies in IBD patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety of biologic therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients who contracted COVID-19.
  • To determine if biologic use influences the severity of COVID-19 outcomes in IBD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of multiple databases for studies on biologics and severe COVID-19 in IBD patients.
  • Inclusion of case series (>10 patients), case-control, and cohort studies.
  • Pooled analysis with multivariate regression, defining severe COVID-19 as ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, or mortality.

Main Results:

  • Twelve studies comprising 2681 IBD patients were analyzed.
  • Overall rates for mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and mortality were 5.1%, 6.1%, and 4.5%, respectively.
  • Biologic therapy did not significantly moderate the risk of mechanical ventilation (p=0.68), ICU admission (p=0.27), or mortality (p=0.20).

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the continuation of biologic therapy for IBD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Further reassessment of COVID-19 incidence, severity, and outcomes in IBD patients is warranted as new data emerges.
Abstract

Keywords:
BiologicsCOVID-19Inflammatory bowel diseaseMortalitySARS-CoV-2

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