IBD is a Risk Factor for Acute Arterial Events

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk for acute arterial events, according to the findings of a recent study. 

In their study, researchers analyzed data from the French National Hospital Discharge database from 2008 to 2013, and identified 210,162 patients 15 years of age or older who were diagnosed with IBD. Of these, 97,708 individuals were diagnosed with Crohn disease (CD) and 112,454 were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC). The rates of incident acute arterial events were calculated, and the impact of disease activity, such as IBD-related surgery or hospitalization for IBD flare, on the risk of arterial events was assessed using Cox regression.
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A total of 5554 acute arterial events occurred among individuals with IBD. Patients with CD or UC had a statistically significant overall increased risk for acute arterial events compared with those without IBD, and the highest risk was observed in patients under 55 years of age.

In addition, the 3-month periods before and after IBD-related hospitalization were associated with an increased risk of acute arterial events for patients with UC and CD.

“Patients with IBD are at increased risk of acute arterial events, with the highest risk in young patients,” the researchers concluded. “Disease activity may also have an independent impact on the risk.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Kirchgesner J, Beaugerie L, Carrat F for the BERENICE study group, et al. Increased risk of acute arterial events in young patients and severely active IBD: a nationwide French cohort study [published online July 25, 2017]. Gut. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2017-314015.