The Impact of COVID-19 on the Health Care Utilization of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The Effect of Patient's Perceptions for COVID-19 on the Inflammatory Bowel Disease-related Healthcare Utilization in the Hyperepidemic Area

The rapid spread of COVID-19 is expected to have a significant impact on medicine as well as all sectors worldwide. In particular, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune disease in which remission and activation are repeated and must be treated consistently throughout life. In addition, patients with IBD may be vulnerable to various infectious diseases due to the immuno-compromised state due to the use of immuno-suppressants or biological agents. During a pandemic, patients with IBD may postpone hospital visits due to concerns about infection with COVID-19, and if they cannot continue drug treatment, there is a concern about the flare up IBD disease activity. Therefore, in this study, we would like to investigate the current status of hospital utilization of IBD patients in Daegu, the epidemic area of COVID-19, and to investigate the effect of patient perception of COVID-19 on hospital ultilization.

Background: In the epidemic area of COVID-19, emergency treatment of chronic diseases other than COVID-19 can be limited. Therefore, it is important to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in patients with chronic immune diseases such as IBD, but it is most important to manage well so that the underlying diseases are not exacerbated at times when emergency medical treatment may be difficult. However, there is a lack of evidence on the management policy of chronic immune diseases in the current epidemic, and only expert opinions are being presented.

Aim: To investigate the current status of hospital utilization of IBD patients in Daegu, the epidemic area of COVID-19, and to investigate the effect of patient perception of COVID-19 on hospital utilization.

Material and method: This study is a multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional survey which will be consulted in Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center and Yeungnam University Hospital. Patients with IBD aged above 18 will enrolled and surveyed about their perception about COVID-19 and status of hospital utilization during pandemic period. Patients' demographics and disease-related variables will be evaluated to identify clinical significances.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with inflammatory growth disease, those who agreed to participate in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who are unable to understand or answer the questionnaire
• Those who declined to participate in this study