The natural history of COVID-19 in vaccinated inflammatory bowel disease patients.

AIM: Assess the characteristics of break through COVID-19 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients, despite complete vaccination. METHODS: Patients who reported a COVID-19 at least 3 weeks after complete vaccination were asked to answer an on-line anonymous questionnaire which included patient and disease characteristics, vaccination history, and the evolution of COVID-19. RESULTS: Among 3240 IBD patients who reported complete vaccination between 1st May 2021 and 30thJune 2022, 402 (12.4%) were infected by SARS Cov-2 [223 male, 216 Crohn's disease (CD), 186 Ulcerative Colitis (UC), mean (SD) age 42.3 (14.9) years, mean (SD) IBD duration 10.1 (9.7) years]. Three hundred and sixty-nine patients (91.8%) were infected once and 33 (8.2%) twice. The mean (SD) time between last vaccination and infection was 4.1 (1.6) months. Overall, 351 (87.3%) patients reported mild constitutional and/or respiratory symptoms, 34 (8.4%) were asymptomatic and only 17 patients (4.2%) required hospitalization. Of hospitalized patients, 2 UC patients died of COVID-19 pneumonia. The remaining hospitalized patients did not need high flow oxygen supply or ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of completely vaccinated IBD patients developed COVID-19 which evolved with mild symptoms and a favorable outcome. These results reinforce the importance of vaccination especially in vulnerable populations.

The Natural History of Covid-19 in Vaccinated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Introduction: Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), especially those on immunosuppressives (IMS), should be vaccinated against SARSCoV- 2 to prevent hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and death. However, IMS may adversely affect response to vaccination, raising concerns as to how vulnerable these patients are to break through COVID-19 infections. Thus, we aimed to assess the proportion of IBD patients who despite complete vaccination developed COVID-19, as well as the course of COVID-19 disease. Aims & Methods: This study was an initiative of the Hellenic IBD Study Group (EOMIFNE) and involved 12 IBD referral Centers. Patients attending these Centers who reported a COVID-19 infection at least 3 weeks after vaccination completion were asked to complete an on-line anonymous questionnaire which included patient demographics and IBD clinical and therapeutic data, a detailed vaccination history, and the course and outcome of COVID-19, especially the need for hospitalization, oxygen supply, and admission to ICU. In patients with a grave outcome information was sought by family members. Result(s): On estimate, 3240 patients reported full vaccination (vaccination scheme either with combined Vaxzevria- Comirnaty or onlyComirnaty vaccine) in the 12 centers. Between 1stMay 2021 and 20thApril 2022,351 (10.8%) fully vaccinated IBD patients reported COVID-19 infection [187 male, 212 CD, 139 UC, mean (SD) age 42.3 (14.9) years, mean (SD) IBD duration mean (SD), 10.1 (9.7) years]. Among them, 322 (91.7%) were infected once and 29 (8.3%) patients twice. Seventy-three patients were receiving 5-ASAs, 15 corticosteroids, 46 azathioprine/methotrexate, 117 anti-TNFs as monotherapy and 21 in combination with azathioprine/methotrexate, and 2 with corticosteroids, 43 vedolizumab, 25 ustekinumab, 5 tofacitinib and 1 rizakinzumab at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Three patients did not receive any treatment. IBD was in remission in 279/351 patients (79.5%). Comorbidities were reported by 112 patients (thyroid disease 66;diabetes mellitus 13;hypertension 12;coronary heart disease 11;prior cancer 4;psoriasis 2;spondyoartropathy 2;dyslipidemia 1;and PSC 1 patient). The mean (SD) time between last vaccination dose and infection was 4.1 (1.6) months. Overall, 308 (87.7%) patients reported mild constitutional and respiratory symptoms, 29 (8.6%) were asymptomatic and only 14 patients (3.9%) required hospitalization. Of those hospitalized, 2 patients, both with UC, died because of COVID pneumonia (one aged 67, on infliximab, with diabetes and the second one aged 80, on 5-ASA, with a history of laryngeal cancer);however, the remaining 12 patients did not need high flow oxygen supply or ICU admission, and none reported symptoms of long COVID. IBD medications were stopped in 145 patients (41.3%) during the COVID-19 infection. Conclusion(s): A minority of fully vaccinated IBD vaccinated patients developed COVID-19 which was relatively mild and uneventful. These results reinforce the importance of vaccination especially in vulnerable populations.

The natural history of COVID-19 in patients with IBD: A nationwide study by the hellenic society for the study of IBD

Introduction: COVID-19 has evolved into a global health crisis, variably affecting the management of patients with chronic illnesses. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may represent a vulnerable population due to the frequent administration of immune-modifying treatments. Aims & Methods: We aimed to depict the natural history of COVID-19 infection in Greek patients with IBD at a nationwide level via the unbiased reporting of all cases that were registered during the first and second waves of the pandemic. Following a national call from the Hellenic Society for the study of IBD, we enrolled all IBD patients with established diagnoses of COVID-19. Clinical and epidemiological data, including COVID-19 modifying factors and IBDassociated therapies, were analyzed against adverse outcomes (hospitalization, ICU admission, and death). Results: We identified 160 IBD patients who were diagnosed with COVID- 19 during the study period (male:56.9%;mean age=41.6 [SD=14.8] years;CD:64.4%). Adverse outcomes were reported in 34 patients (21.3%), including 3 ICU admissions (1.9%) and 2 deaths (1.3%). As shown in the table prognostic factor for adverse events due to COVID-19 in IBD patients were sought. Through multivariate logistic regression age (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1-1.08) and dyspnoea at presentation (OR=8.72, 95% CI=2.14-35.57) were identified as negative prognostic factors while there was also a tendency for fever at presentation (OR=3.23, 95% CI=0.91-11.43). In contrast, treatment with biologics, in particular anti-TNF agents, exerted a protective effect against an unfavorable course COVID-19 (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.13-0.84). Patients on subcutaneous biologics were more likely to halt treatment due to the infection as compared to those on intravenous medications. Conclusion: IBD patients who developed COVID-19 had a benign course with adverse outcomes being scarce. Treatment with biologics had a beneficial effect, supporting the continuation of therapy during the pandemic. (Table Presented).