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Investigating Intestinal Inflammation in DSS-induced Model of IBD
Published on: February 1, 2012
Clinical Course of COVID-19 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Korea: a KASID Multicenter Study
Jin Wook Lee1,2, Eun Mi Song3, Sung-Ae Jung3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Insights
This study on COVID-19 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Korea found mild respiratory symptoms. Most ulcerative colitis (UC) patients experienced new gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic poses a global health challenge.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) management requires careful consideration during infectious disease outbreaks.
- Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on IBD patients is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical features and characteristics of patients with IBD and confirmed COVID-19 infection.
- To analyze the presentation and outcomes of IBD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Korea.
- To identify common symptoms and management strategies in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A case series design was employed.
- Data were collected from nine IBD patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection.
- Patient information was gathered across four hospitals in Korea between February 2020 and March 2021.
Main Results:
- The median age of patients was 42 years, with a majority being male (six patients).
- Seven patients had ulcerative colitis (UC); none required oxygen therapy, ICU admission, or experienced mortality.
- Fever was the most common symptom; five UC patients developed new gastrointestinal symptoms, primarily diarrhea. Two UC patients required oral steroids for disease exacerbation.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 in IBD patients, as observed in this Korean cohort, predominantly presented as mild respiratory tract infections.
- Ulcerative colitis patients are susceptible to new or worsening gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, during COVID-19 infection.
- The findings suggest a generally favorable prognosis for IBD patients with COVID-19, though GI symptom monitoring is important.
Abstract:
In 2020, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began to spread worldwide and remains an ongoing medical challenge. This case series reports on the clinical features and characteristics of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and confirmed COVID-19 infection. From February 2020 to March 2021, nine patients with IBD had confirmed COVID-19 across four hospitals in Korea. The median age at COVID-19 diagnosis was 42 years. Six patients were male, and seven patients had ulcerative colitis (UC). No patients required oxygen therapy, intensive care unit hospitalizations, or died. The most common symptom was fever, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms developed as diarrhea in five patients with UC. Oral steroids were used to combat UC aggravation in two patients. In this case series of nine IBD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Korea, the clinical presentation was predominately a mild respiratory tract infection. Most patients with UC developed new GI symptoms including diarrhea.
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