Inflammatory Bowel Disease and COVID-19: How Have Patients Coped So Far?

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge about SARS-CoV2 and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is growing fast. Massive changes in the health care system imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic clearly impact the overall quality of medical care. In this survey, we aim to explore experiences and concerns of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) regarding the current pandemic. METHODS: A 40-item web-based questionnaire on disease-related experiences and concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic was made available to patients with IBD from 28 April 2020 to 31 July 2020. RESULTS: An increased risk of SARS-CoV2 infection was a concern for 56.7% of the 1199 patients (aged 41.3±12.8, women 77%, Crohn's disease 58.8%, ulcerative colitis 38.5%); 61.7% feared an increased risk of severe disease course of COVID-19. Effective preventive measures in either outpatient practices or hospitals were observed by 84.7% of the patients. Appointments with an IBD specialist were canceled in 38.7%, frequently on the patients' initiative. Telecommunication visits were considered an acceptable alternative to personal visits by 71.0%. Medication was reduced or paused in 6.9% because of the pandemic. A swab (SARS-CoV2-PCR) was done in 13.2% of the patients; only 3 patients (0.25%) were tested positive. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic is a major concern of patients with IBD. However, the cumulative prevalence in our cohort is low. Patients at risk should be identified and counseled individually. When required because of the local COVID-19 situation, telecommunication visits and liberal prescription policies are advisable to reduce in-person contacts, while ensuring continuous therapy and maintaining communication with patients.

Family planning with inflammatory bowel disease: the challenge of childlessness and parent concerns.

BACKGROUND: In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diagnosis is often established at the beginning of childbearing age. Accordingly, concerns about family planning and pregnancy (FPP) are common. Poor knowledge regarding FPP might contribute to increased childlessness in patients with IBD. METHODS: The Crohn's and Colitis Pregnancy Knowledge Score (CCPKnow, 17 multiple-choice questions) was translated into German and then used for a web-based survey. Childlessness was analyzed with respect to socio-demographic and disease-related information, and the knowledge (CCPKnow) and concerns of IBD patients with children were compared to those of voluntarily childless (VC) and non-voluntarily childless (NVC) IBD patients. RESULTS: Childlessness was observed in 57.4 % of the 533 participants (90.6 % women, 63.0 % Crohn's disease, 31.5 % ulcerative colitis, mean age 33.2 ±â€Š8.6 years), voluntary childlessness in 9 %. The mean overall CCPKnow was adequate (9.38 ±â€Š3.96). Poor knowledge was not associated with increased childlessness (CCPKnow of < 8 was found in 29.8 % of patients with children and 28.9 % of childless patients, p > 0.5). Instead, the patients' education, medical advice, FPP-related concerns, impaired body image, and sexual dysfunction had a significant impact on childlessness. Frequent concerns included adverse effects of the patient's medication on their child (36 % of the respondents), malformation (33 %), miscarriage (34.5 %), and the inheritability of IBD (57 %). CONCLUSIONS: Factual knowledge does not reduce disease-related concerns or childlessness. Correct but possibly bothersome information on FPP might contribute to childlessness in patients with IBD. Our findings underline the need for qualified counseling of IBD patients regarding FPP by an experienced IBD physician.