Study of Clinical Course of Newly Diagnosed Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis in Korea

Cohort Study of Newly Diagnosed Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis in Tertiary Referral Hospital Setting in Korea

The purpose of this study is to describe clinical course of newly diagnosed moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory disease of the colon) in tertiary referral hospitals in Korea for 5-year follow-up under usual care.

This is a multicenter (when medical research study takes place in more than one country), prospective (study following participants forward in time), disease-oriented and hospital-based 5-year follow-up longitudinal study in Korean participants with newly diagnosed moderate to severe ulcerative colitis who visit tertiary referral hospital. As the study is observational in nature, no intervention will be received by participants. Efficacy will primarily be assessed by number of relapses and percentage of participants achieving sustained remission (clinical, endoscopic and combined remission).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant is newly diagnosed with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in a tertiary referral hospital within 4 weeks prior to enrollment
• The diagnosis was based on symptoms consistent with ulcerative colitis lasting for more than 4 weeks, excluding infections and other acute or chronic non-infectious bowel syndrome conditions
• Participants meet diagnostic criteria for ulcerative colitisif at least 3 out of 4 of the following are met: 1) A History of diarrhea and/or blood/pus in stool, 2) Macroscopic appearance at endoscopy, with continuous mucosal inflammation affecting the rectum in continuity with some or all of the colon, 3) Microscopic features on biopsy consistent with ulcerative colitis, 4) No suspicion of Crohn's disease or indeterminate colitis
• Participants are willing to participate in regular follow-up visits
• Participant is willing to participate in the study and has signed the informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants in an interventional clinical trial with systemic corticosteroid, biologics (including, but not limited to, infliximab, golimumab, adalimumab and vedolizumab, etc) and other drugs (sulfasalazine, medalamine, azathioprine, tofacitinib, etc) for ulcerative colitis
• Having experienced colectomy such as subtotal colectomy with ileorectostomy or colectomy with ileoanal pouch, Koch pouch, or ileostomy for ulcerative colitis, or planning surgical treatment within 1 year from enrollment
• A current diagnosis of indeterminate colitis, or current diagnosis or history of Crohn's disease