Preliminary study on elderly patients with ulcerative colitis in Shanghai / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics between elderly and non-elderly patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in Shanghai, so as to improve the diagnosis and management of the disease. Methods The clinical and endoscopic data from 214 patients with UC,who were admitted to Shanghai Ruijin Hospital between 1998 and 2009,were retrospectively analyzed. The database was established and according to onset age,the patients were divided into elderly group (n= 28, ≥60 years of age) and non-elderly group (n = 128, ＜60 years of age), The comparisons between two groups were performed using Chi square test for non-quantitative variables, and student's t test and nonparametric tests for quantitative variables. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factor.Results Onset peak of UC was found in patients ranged from 40 to 49 years of age, and elderly patients were accounted for 13.08 % in Shanghai. There was no significant difference between two groups with respect to clinical manifestation, complications, Truelove and Witts criteria index, or endoscopic score. In active phase, elevated peripheral platelet counts were seen in more elderly patients than those in non-elderly patients (75% vs 29%, F= 4. 4, P= 0. 043). However, high level of peripheral platelet was found in non-elderly patients (Z= -2.6, P=0. 008). Endoscopic examination revealed that the colonic lesion in elderly patients was limited and was more common in left-sided colon and protosigmoid (F=5. 8, P = 0. 012). More non-elderly patients were treated with steroid in comparison to elderly patients with mild or severe UC (28. 6% vs 55.7%, F=7.7,P=0. 007). In addition, the high mortality was found in elderly patients when compared with non-elderly patients (20.8 % vs 2.84%, F= 12. 8, P = 0. 008). Conclusion The differences existed between elderly and non-elderly UC patients with respect to clinical manifestation, lab investigation, involved extent of colon, medication and prognosis.