News: COVID-19 patients with IBD history at greater risk for severe outcomes, study suggests

A recent study presented at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress has suggested that COVID-19 patients who have a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of sepsis, shock, and acute kidney injury, according to MedPage Today.

The study examined 91,608 patients who had both COVID-19 and IBD. Approximately half the patients were women (52.2%), the majority of which were white (73.4%), and on a Medicare plan (54.6%).

According to the lead researcher, Rakahn Haddadin, MD, of Las Vegas’ Sunrise Health Systems, “IBD patients who develop COVID-19 infection should be evaluated diligently as their disease state may predispose them to shock and organ injury. Further studies are needed to elucidate why these patients do not have an increased rate of ventilator-dependent respiratory failure or death.”

Though promising, some researchers have noted that the study has no clear clinical implications “without more information about the patient population,” the severity of their IBD, and their medication use, according to MedPage Today.

Nevertheless, the researchers of the study have encouraged patients with IBD to take the COVID-19 vaccination to prevent worsening complications.

Editor’s note: To read the MedPage Today coverage, click here.