Effectiveness of colonic stent placement for obstructive colorectal cancers: An analysis of short-term results using a nationwide database in Japan

Clinical practice and outcome of patients with elderly-onset ulcerative colitis: Insights from a nationwide claims database study in Japan

Background and Aim

The number of older patients with ulcerative colitis is increasing; however, limited data exist regarding the differences between elderly- and non-elderly-onset ulcerative colitis. We aimed to compare the clinical practice and course of elderly-onset ulcerative colitis with those of non-elderly-onset ulcerative colitis.

Methods

We selected older patients with ulcerative colitis and divided them into the elderly- and non-elderly-onset ulcerative colitis groups according to their age at onset. We compared the cumulative systemic steroid-free, molecular targeting drug-free, and surgery-free rates between the two groups. We performed a multivariate analysis to identify the clinical factors related to systemic steroid administration, the use of molecular targeting drugs, surgery, and death.

Results

We collected data of 2669 and 277 elderly and non-elderly-onset ulcerative colitis patients, respectively. The cumulative systemic steroid-free rate of elderly-onset ulcerative colitis was significantly lower than that of non-elderly-onset ulcerative colitis. However, no difference was observed in the cumulative molecular targeting drugs and surgery-free rates between the two groups. Elderly-onset ulcerative colitis significantly increased the risk of systemic steroid administration and death but not the use of molecular targeting drugs and surgery.

Conclusion

The disease severity of ulcerative colitis and clinical practice may not differ between the elderly- and non-elderly-onset groups. However, elderly-onset ulcerative colitis was associated with increased mortality risk. Thus, we need to pay attention to the patients' condition and appropriate timing of surgery for patients with elderly-onset ulcerative colitis.

Effectiveness of Antibiotics for Uncomplicated Diverticulitis: A Retrospective Investigation Using a Nationwide Database in Japan

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy of antibiotics for diverticulitis without abscess or peritonitis (uncomplicated diverticulitis) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of antibiotics for uncomplicated diverticulitis.

METHODS

We collected admission data for patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis using a nationwide database. We divided eligible admissions into two groups according to antibiotic initiation within 2 days after admission (antibiotic group vs. nonantibiotic group). We conducted propensity score matching and compared the rates of surgery (intestinal resection and stoma creation), in-hospital death, and medical costs between the groups. We also performed multivariate analysis to identify the clinical factors that affect surgery.

RESULTS

We enrolled 131,936 admissions; among these, we obtained 6,061 pairs after propensity score matching. Rates of both intestinal resection and stoma creation in the antibiotic group were lower than those in the nonantibiotic group (0.61 vs. 3.09%, p < 0.0001, and 0.08 vs. 0.26%, p = 0.027, respectively). Median costs in the antibiotic group were higher than those in the nonantibiotic group (315,820 JPY vs. 300,175 JPY, p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that non-initiation of antibiotics within 2 days after admission was a clinical factor that increased the risk of intestinal resection (odds ratio [OR] = 5.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.38-6.16, p < 0.0001) and stoma creation (OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.53-4.70, p = 0.0006).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that antibiotics for uncomplicated diverticulitis expected to have moderate to severe disease activity may reduce the risk of intestinal resection and stoma creation. Further investigations are warranted.

Long-term prognosis and clinical practice for new-onset ulcerative colitis in the era of biologics: A Japanese retrospective study

Background and Aim

There is a scarcity of data on long-term outcomes in patients with new-onset ulcerative colitis (UC) in the era of biologics. We aimed to clarify the long-term prognosis of UC and the clinical practice of prescriptions for UC.

Methods

We collected 6689 new-onset UC cases using a medical claim database provided by DeSC Healthcare, Inc. We investigated the surgery-free, systemic steroid-free, and molecular targeting drug-free rates and compared their differences based on UC-onset age. We used multivariate analysis to identify clinical factors affecting long-term prognosis and investigated the transition of prescriptions for UC.

Results

The surgery-free, systemic steroid-free, and molecular targeting drug-free rates at 5 years post-UC diagnosis were 98.5%, 61.0%, and 88.7%, respectively. Pediatric patients had higher surgery-free rates compared with elderly patients and non-pediatric/non-elderly patients (P = 0.022), whereas the systemic steroid-free and molecular targeting drug-free rates were significantly lower (P< 0.0001, P < 0.0001, respectively). The retention rate of the first molecular targeting drug did not differ between drugs. The prescription rates of systemic steroid, immunomodulator, and molecular targeting drug increased from the second quarter in 2014 to the fourth quarter in 2021 (29.8%-39.1%, 6.8%-17.7%, and 7.6%-16.4%, respectively).

Conclusions

We clarified the long-term prognosis and clinical practice of new-onset UC cases. The long-term outcome after UC onset might improve because of increasing use of new therapeutic agents. Further investigations are warranted.

Safety of early Hartmann reversal during adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer: a pilot study

Introduction

Most patients undergoing the Hartmann procedure for complicated colorectal cancer require chemotherapy because of their advanced status. Stoma created during the procedure is typically closed after the completion of postoperative chemotherapy. However, stomas can induce medical or surgical complications and disturb quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of Hartmann's reversal during postoperative chemotherapy.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of electronic medical records. Between 2017 and 2021, 96 patients underwent Hartmann reversal for after colorectal cancer surgery. Among them, the number of patients who underwent Hartmann procedure with radical resection of complicated colorectal cancer and Hartmann reversal during adjuvant chemotherapy was 13. The clinical, surgical, and pathological characteristics of the patients were evaluated.

Results

Eight and five patients had obstructions and perforations, respectively. Two patients with synchronous liver metastases underwent simultaneous liver resection and reversal simultaneously. Five and eight patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and FOLFOX, respectively. The median interval between the Hartmann procedure and reversal was 3.31 months (2.69-5.59). The median operative time for Hartmann's reversal was 190 min (100-335). The median hospital stay was 10 days (7-21). Four patients (30.8%) developed postoperative complications, and the rate of 3 or higher grade according to the Clavien-Dindo classification within 90 days postoperatively was 0%. Except for 1 patient who refused continuation of chemotherapy, 12 patients completed the planned chemotherapy. Median total duration of adjuvant chemotherapy was 6.78 months (5.98-8.48). There was no mortality.

Conclusion

Early Hartmann reversal during adjuvant chemotherapy is tolerable and safe in carefully selected patients. In particular, it can be used as a therapeutic option for patients with complicated colorectal cancer with synchronous resectable metastases.

Severity of acute pancreatitis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the era of biologics: A propensity-score-matched analysis using a nationwide database in Japan

Background and Aim

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several studies from Western countries have reported that the severity of AP in patients with IBD is similar to that in the general population; however, its severity in patients from Eastern countries in the era of biologics remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the severity of AP in patients with IBD and the effect of biologics on the severity of AP using a nationwide database.

Methods

We divided 1138 eligible AP admissions from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database system into IBD and non-IBD groups after propensity score matching, and compared the severity of AP. We divided the IBD group into ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) subgroups and compared each with the non-IBD group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the clinical factors affecting acute pancreatitis.

Results

IBD and UC groups had lower rate of severe AP compared to the non-IBD group (13.7% vs 28.3%, P < 0.0001 and 11.0% vs 28.3%, P < 0.0001, respectively). There were no differences in the rates of severe AP between the CD and non-IBD groups. Multivariate analysis showed that biologics did not affect the severity of AP.

Conclusion

The severity of AP in patients with IBD may be lower than that in the general population; biologics for IBD may not worsen its severity. Further prospective studies are required to clarify the severity of AP in patients with IBD.

Depression is associated with increased disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis: A propensity score-matched analysis using a nationwide database in Japan

Background and Aim

The incidence and prevalence of psychiatric disorders are elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whether psychiatric disorders could affect the clinical course of IBD is uncertain and controversial. We aimed to evaluate the impact of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, on the clinical course of IBD using a nationwide database in Japan.

Methods

We collected data on admissions with IBD using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database system introduced in Japan. We divided eligible admissions into IBD with and without depression groups using propensity score matching and compared the rates of surgery, use of molecular targeted drugs and biologics, systemic steroid administrations, and in-hospital death. We also conducted a logistic regression analysis to identify clinical factors affecting surgery, the use of molecular targeted drugs and biologics, and systemic steroid administrations.

Results

The rates of surgery, use of two or more molecular targeted drugs, systemic steroid administrations, and in-hospital deaths in the ulcerative colitis (UC) with depression group were higher than in the UC without depression group. Multivariate analysis of UC showed that depression increased the odds of systemic steroid administrations, use of two or more molecular targeted drugs, and surgery. However, analysis of Crohn's disease showed that only steroid administrations were associated with depression.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated an association between a worse clinical course of UC and depression. Although this result indicates that depression might be associated with increased disease activity in patients with UC, the causal relationship is still unclear. Further prospective studies are warranted.

Colon cancer patient with long-term colon stent placement: Case report and literature review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer mortality globally. Large bowel obstruction (occurring in 15-30% of patients with CRCs) accounts for approximately 80% of medical emergencies related to CRC. Currently, there is no standard treatment of this condition. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommends self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) as a bridge (two weeks) to surgery for left-sided obstructing colon cancer. In the present report, we describe an 81-year-old male with colon cancer who underwent colon stent placement for 32 months, but later underwent radical resection. A follow-up of more than four-months revealed that his condition was normal. The history as well as application and advantages of SEMS are discussed in this report.