ABSTRACT
Background: Cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have emerged in discrete waves across different regions in the world. We explored temporal trends in the reporting of COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in a large global database. Methods: The Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SECURE-IBD) is an international registry to study the character-istics and outcomes of patients with IBD diagnosed with COVID-19. Joinpoint regression models calculated the average percent change (APC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in weekly reported cases of COVID-19 in patients in the registry stratified by geographic regions (Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America) during two time periods: March 22 to September 12 and September 13 to November 14, 2020. We also determined the APC in US regions (Midwest, Northeast, South and West) during the two time periods. Results: Across 63 countries and dependencies, 3,195 cases of COVID-19 in people with IBD were reported over an 8-month period. Overall, COVID-19 reporting steadily decreased throughout the world by 4.5% per week (95% CI: −5.7, −3.2) from March 22 to September 12, 2020 but then steadily climbed by 12.4% per week (95% CI: 6.8, 18.3) from September 13 to November 14, 2020. After stratification by geographic region, weekly reporting declined before September 13 in North America (APC = −2.0%;95% CI: −3.7, −0.4), Asia (APC =− 4.4%;95% CI: −7.8, −0.9), and Europe (APC = −8.6%;95% CI: −10.6, −6.6), but escalated in Latin America (APC = 3.4%;95% CI: 0.7, 6.1) (Figure 1). After September 12, the rate of weekly cases decreased in Latin America (APC = −19.0%;95% CI: −33.3, −1.7) and Asia (APC = −19.3%;95% CI: −34.6, −0.5), while increased in North America (APC = 10.7%;95% CI: 4.3, 17.4) and Europe (APC = 28.0%;95% CI: 17.3, 39.6) (Figure 1). Within the US, temporal trends differed by region: Midwest (stable APC: −0.8%;95% CI: −3.5, 1.9 then increase APC: 27.3%;95%: 16.1, 39.6), Northeast (decrease APC: −9.1%;95% CI:− 11.8, −6.2 then stable APC: 2.4%;95% CI: −9.9, 16.5), South (increase APC: 5.3%;95%CI: 2.5, 8.3 then decrease APC: −12.0;95% CI: −18.4, −5.0), and West (stable APC: 0.2%;95% CI: −3.0, 3.5 then stable APC: 9.0%;95% CI: −13.8, 37.9) (Figure 2). Conclusion: COVID-19 reporting to SECURE-IBD declined steadily during the first wave of the pandemic throughout the world except Latin America. Starting in September, reports to SECURE-IBD rose in both Europe and North America, consistent with the second wave of the pandemic in these countries.(Figure presented)Figure 1. Global regional temporal trends in reporting of COVID-19 in patients with IBD from the SECURE-IBD registry: A. Asia, B. Europe, C. Latin America, and D. North America: March 22–28 to September 6-12 and September 13-19 to November 8–14, 2020(Figure presented)Figure 2. United States regional temporal trends in reporting of COVID-19 in patients with IBD from the SECURE-IBD registry: A. Midwest, B. Northeast, C. South, and D. West: March 22–28 to September 6-12 and September 13-19 to November 8–14, 2020