Epidemiology and the Impact of Therapies on the Outcome of COVID-19 in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Oct;115(10):1722-1724. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000830.

Abstract

Introduction: It has been hypothesized that people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, it is not known whether immunosuppressive therapies exacerbate the COVID-19 outcome.

Methods: We reviewed data on the prevalence and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with IBD.

Results: COVID-19 prevalence in patients with IBD was comparable with that in the general population. Therapies using antitumor necrosis factor-α agents have been associated with better clinical outcomes.

Discussion: Management and treatments provided by gastroenterologists were effective in reducing COVID-19 risk. Antitumor necrosis factor-α agents seem to mitigate the course of COVID-19.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / statistics & numerical data
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Prevalence
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • TNF protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha