COVID-19 Hospitalizations Among U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, April 1 to July 31, 2020

Role of gastroenterologists and healthcare providers in promoting COVID-19 immunization among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis on a global scale

Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are more susceptible to experiencing severe complications of COVID-19 if infected. Nevertheless, sub-optimal immunization rates have been reported among these patients. Our study aims to assess COVID-19 VH among a global population of patients with IBD and to investigate the role of healthcare professionals, particularly gastroenterologists, in promoting immunization. Twenty-six studies were systematically selected from scientific articles in the MEDLINE/PubMed, WoK, and Scopus databases from January 1, 2020, to September 15, 2023. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 VH was 27.2% (95%CI = 20.6-34.2%). A significant relationship was evidenced between COVID-19 vaccine compliance and receiving advice from gastroenterologists or healthcare providers (OR = 2.77; 95%CI = 1.79-4.30). By leveraging their knowledge of IBD, familiarity with patient histories, and trusted patient-doctor relationships, gastroenterologists are pivotal in promoting vaccination. This patient-centered care is crucial in increasing vaccine acceptance among individuals with IBD, contributing to better public health outcomes.

The association between ulcerative colitis and COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis systematic review

PURPOSE

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges arose regarding the impact of this disease on people with ulcerative colitis. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence, severity, and death consequences of COVID-19 in patients with ulcerative colitis using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

This study was conducted using a systematic review and meta-analysis method in the field of prevalence, severity, and clinical consequences of COVID-19 in people with ulcerative colitis worldwide. The search was conducted in international scientific databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, from the beginning of 2020 to October 2023. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed using the Strobe and Newcastle Ottawa checklists. The data were analyzed using a fixed-effects model in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed using STATA version 17.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies with a sample size of 224,520 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that, in COVID-19 patients with ulcerative colitis, the prevalence of hospitalization, death, COVID-19 severity, and mortality rate in severe patients was 54% (95% CI, 27-80%), 10% (95% CI, 4-16%), 20% (95% CI, 8-34%), 63% (95% CI, 46-80%), respectively. In comparison with the general population, the odds ratio (OR) of hospitalization in patients due to COVID-19 was OR = 1.28 (95% CI, 1.19-1.38, P < 0.001), and the chance of severe COVID-19 was OR = 1.30 (95% CI, 1.22-1.53, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The probability of contracting the severe type of COVID-19 and hospitalization in patients with ulcerative colitis was higher than in the general population.

COVID-19 Immunization Rates in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Worldwide: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are characterized by an increased vulnerability to complications stemming from infectious diseases. While these patients do not inherently face a heightened risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population, their vulnerability to severe COVID-19 complications and subsequent hospitalization is notably increased. The objective of our study is to quantitatively assess the global coverage of COVID-19 vaccination among individuals with IBD, achieved through a comprehensive meta-analysis and systematic review. Thirteen studies were systematically selected from scientific articles available in the MEDLINE/PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases, spanning from 1 January 2021 to 25 July 2023. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine uptake was estimated at 72% (95%CI = 59-83%) for at least one dose, 81% (95%CI = 68-91%) for the complete vaccination regimen, and 71% (95%CI = 46-91%) for the third dose. Analysis of the determinants influencing vaccination uptake revealed several significant associations. These encompassed Caucasian ethnicity, female sex, absence of immunosuppressive therapy, advanced age, prior receipt of the anti-influenza vaccine, absence of a history of COVID-19 infection, and the provision of advice from gastroenterologists, all linked to improved compliance. Our study underscores a noteworthy yet not entirely optimal COVID-19 vaccination coverage among individuals with IBD. A multifaceted approach is warranted to enhance vaccination rates. Within this context, the role of gastroenterologists extends beyond direct patient care, encompassing a pivotal responsibility in preventing complications stemming from post-infectious diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease and COVID-19 outcomes: a meta-analysis

There is conflicting evidence concerning the effect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on COVID-19 incidence and outcome. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the published evidence through a systematic review process and perform a meta-analysis to assess the association between IBD and COVID-19. A compressive literature search was performed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to July 2021. A snowball search in Google, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and MedRxiv; and bibliographic research were also performed to identify any other relevant articles. Quantitative observational studies such as cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies that assessed the incidence, risk, and outcomes of COVID-19 among the adult IBD patients published in the English language, were considered for this review. The incidence and risk of COVID-19, COVID-19 hospitalization, the severity of COVID-19, and mortality were considered as the outcomes of interest. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist was used for quality assessment. A subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed to explore the heterogeneity and robustness of the results, respectively. A total of 86 studies out of 2828 non-duplicate records were considered for this meta-analysis. The studies were single or multicentric internationally from settings such as IBD centres, medical colleges, hospitals, or from the general public. Most of the studies were observed to be of good quality with an acceptable risk of bias. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19, COVID-19 hospitalization, severe COVID-19, and mortality in the IBD population were 6.10%, 10.63%, 40.43%, and 1.94%, respectively. IBD was not significantly (p > 0.05) associated with the risk of COVID-19, COVID-19 hospitalization, severe COVID-19, and mortality. In contrast, ulcerative colitis was significantly associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 (OR 1.37; p = 0.01), COVID-19 hospitalization (OR 1.28; p < 0.00001), and severe COVID-19 (OR 2.45; p < 0.0007). Crohn's disease was significantly associated with a lesser risk of severe COVID-19 (OR 0.48; p = 0.02). Type of IBD was a potential factor that might have contributed to the higher level of heterogeneity. There was a significant association between ulcerative colitis and increased risk of COVID-19, COVID-19 hospitalization, and severe COVID-19 infection. This association was not observed in patients with Crohns' disease or in those diagnosed non-specifically as IBD.

Missing science: A scoping study of COVID-19 epidemiological data in the United States

Systematic approaches to epidemiologic data collection are critical for informing pandemic responses, providing information for the targeting and timing of mitigations, for judging the efficacy and efficiency of alternative response strategies, and for conducting real-world impact assessments. Here, we report on a scoping study to assess the completeness of epidemiological data available for COVID-19 pandemic management in the United States, enumerating authoritative US government estimates of parameters of infectious transmission, infection severity, and disease burden and characterizing the extent and scope of US public health affiliated epidemiological investigations published through November 2021. While we found authoritative estimates for most expected transmission and disease severity parameters, some were lacking, and others had significant uncertainties. Moreover, most transmission parameters were not validated domestically or re-assessed over the course of the pandemic. Publicly available disease surveillance measures did grow appreciably in scope and resolution over time; however, their resolution with regards to specific populations and exposure settings remained limited. We identified 283 published epidemiological reports authored by investigators affiliated with U.S. governmental public health entities. Most reported on descriptive studies. Published analytic studies did not appear to fully respond to knowledge gaps or to provide systematic evidence to support, evaluate or tailor community mitigation strategies. The existence of epidemiological data gaps 18 months after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for more timely standardization of data collection practices and for anticipatory research priorities and protocols for emerging infectious disease epidemics.