ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact the lives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Extensive investigations over the past 3 years have shown that the vast majority of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and COVID-19 diseases in IBD patients are mild. The disease activity of IBD is usually not influenced, but some patients may experience temporary gastrointestinal symptoms. With the exception of systemic glucocorticoids, commonly used immunomodulatory drugs had no influence on the severity of COVID-19 disease and the overall mortality did not differ from the general population. However, vaccine response is decreased in a substance-dependent manner. In this review, we summarize the most important, practice-relevant studies.Copyright © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.
ABSTRACT
Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their underlying disease and the often necessary immunosuppressive therapy. Many infectious diseases can be avoided through a consistent vaccination program. However, the vaccination status of many IBD patients deviates significantly from official recommendations. Therefore, the vaccination certificate should be checked at the first contact and then ideally annually at the time of influenza vaccination. Individualized immunosuppressive therapy allows many IBD patients to live a life with few or no symptoms, and many patients want to travel. All of these topics usually only played a minor role in the IBD consultation hours, but have clearly come to the fore with the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In this article we would therefore like to give an overview of what is new and interesting about vaccinations, vaccine-preventable diseases, and travel.
ABSTRACT
The increasing burden of cancer represents a substantial problem for Latin America and the Caribbean. Two Lancet Oncology Commissions in 2013 and 2015 highlighted potential interventions that could advance cancer care in the region by overcoming existing challenges. Areas requiring improvement included insufficient investment in cancer control, non-universal health coverage, fragmented health systems, inequitable concentration of cancer services, inadequate registries, delays in diagnosis or treatment initiation, and insufficient palliative services. Progress has been made in key areas but remains uneven across the region. An unforeseen challenge, the COVID-19 pandemic, strained all resources, and its negative effect on cancer control is expected to continue for years. In this Series paper, we summarise progress in several aspects of cancer control since 2015, and identify persistent barriers requiring commitment of additional resources to reduce the cancer burden in Latin America and the Caribbean.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic is affecting lives worldwide. The influence of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] medication and IBD itself on COVID-19 is controversial. Additionally, IBD-focused guidance is scarce. OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to determine COVID-19 prevalence/exposure, perception and information sources, medication compliance, patient behaviour and physician contact among patients with IBD compared with non-IBD controls. METHODS: A cross-sectional anonymous survey of patients with IBD [Nâ =â 415] at one university IBD clinic and one gastroenterology practice, matched 4:1 with control participants [Nâ =â 116], was performed. RESULTS: Patients with IBD had a high fear of infection. This was more pronounced in patients taking immunosuppressants and it extended to hospitals, private practices and public places, such as supermarkets. IBD patients reported leaving their homes less frequently than their peers without IBD. A total of 90% of patients with IBD reported washing their hands more frequently. Patients taking immunosuppressants were concerned about interactions between medication and COVID-19, whereas patients taking 5-aminosalicylates were not. Nonetheless, 96.4% of patients adhered to continuing their medication. Patients sought guidance primarily from television and internet news sites. Video consultations were found to be a suitable solution for a subset of patients who are young, have a high level of fear and leave their home less frequently than their peers, whereas overall acceptance of video consultations was limited. CONCLUSION: Patients with IBD are significantly more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than their non-IBD peers, but they continue to adhere to their medication regimens. IBD-focused COVID-19 information should be actively conveyed.