Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Covid-19 Infection

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients From Two Tertiary Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Centres: Frequency of Suspected and Confirmed Infections, Severity and Outcome Management

Most of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) in a tertiary expert Centre are on immunosuppressive and/or biological therapy. Theoretically, these treatments may increase patients' risk of infection, in particular viral infection. Therefore, the current SARS-Cov-2 pandemia, with its unprecedent worldwide morbidity and mortality, may have a negative impact on IBD patients' clinical course. Identifying an increased risk in this particular patients' population as well as the risk/protective factors is of outstanding importance, in order to adapt their treatment and surveillance. As a consequence, our aims were (i) to measure retrospectively the risk of SARS-CoV-2 (proven by biological testing or suspected due to record of potential clinical symptoms of COVID-19 infection) in this patients' cohort (principal objective), (ii) to identify risk or protective factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in IBD, and (iii) to analyze the outcome of patients in case of suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The results of this study may be important to adjust our surveillance and therapeutic strategy in these patients, in particular if high virus circulation will occur in the future.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient over the age of 18 years
• IBD patients (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, indeterminate colitis)
• Patient agreeing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient unable to understand the study protocol or to answer simple anamnestic questions due to language barrier
• Patient under guardianship or trusteeship
• Patient under safeguard of justice