Depression in inflammatory bowel disease: risk factor, prodrome or extraintestinal manifestation?

Network analysis of extraintestinal manifestations and associated autoimmune disorders in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

We detect and interactively visualize occurrence, frequency, sequence, and clustering of extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) and associated immune disorders (AID) in 30,334 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients (Crohn's disease (CD) n = 15924, ulcerative colitis (UC) n = 11718, IBD unclassified, IBD-U n = 2692, 52% female, median age 40 years (IQR: 25)) with artificial intelligence (AI). 57% (CD > UC 60% vs. 54%, p < 0.00001) had one or more EIM and/or AID. Mental, musculoskeletal and genitourinary disorders were most frequently associated with IBD: 18% (CD vs. UC 19% vs. 16%, p < 0.00001), 17% (CD vs. UC 20% vs. 15%, p < 0.00001) and 11% (CD vs. UC 13% vs. 9%, p < 0.00001), respectively. AI detected 4 vs. 5 vs. 5 distinct EIM/AID communities with 420 vs. 396 vs. 467 nodes and 11,492 vs. 9116 vs. 16,807 edges (links) in CD vs. UC vs. IBD, respectively. Our newly developed interactive free web app shows previously unknown communities, relationships, and temporal patterns-the diseasome and interactome.

Role of stress and early-life stress in the pathogeny of inflammatory bowel disease

Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have shown that stress is one of the main environmental factor playing a significant role in the pathogeny and life-course of bowel diseases. However, stressful events that occur early in life, even during the fetal life, leave different traces within the central nervous system, in area involved in stress response and autonomic network but also in emotion, cognition and memory regulation. Early-life stress can disrupt the prefrontal-amygdala circuit thus favoring an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis, resulting in anxiety-like behaviors. The down regulation of vagus nerve and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway favors pro-inflammatory conditions. Recent data suggest that emotional abuse at early life are aggravating risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease. This review aims to unravel the mechanisms that explain the consequences of early life events and stress in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease and their mental co-morbidities. A review of therapeutic potential will also be covered.

Sources of diagnostic delay for people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: Qualitative research study

OBJECTIVE

An improved understanding of the causes and experience of diagnostic delay in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

METHODS

Framework analysis of semi-structured interviews with 20 adults with IBD.

RESULTS

Participants' prior knowledge of normal bowel function/IBD was limited. Symptoms were sometimes misattributed to mild/transient conditions or normalised until intolerable. Family pressures, work, education, mistrust of doctors, fear and embarrassment could exacerbate delays. Poor availability of face-to-face appointments deterred people from seeing a GP. Patients feared that by the time they got to see their GP, their symptoms would have resolved. Patients instead self-managed symptoms, but often regretted not seeking help earlier. Limited time in consultations, language barriers, embarrassment, and delays in test results subsequently delayed specialist referrals. GPs misattributed symptoms to other conditions due to atypical or non-specific presentations, leading to reduced trust in health systems. Patients complained of poor communication, delays in accessing test results, appointments, and onward referrals-all associated with clinical deterioration. GPs were sometimes unable to 'fast-track' patients into specialist care. Consultations and endoscopies were often difficult experiences for patients, especially for non-English speakers who are also less likely to receive information on mental health support and the practicalities of living with IBD.

CONCLUSIONS

The framework analysis demonstrates delay in the diagnosis of IBD at each stage of the patient journey.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Greater awareness of IBD amongst the general population would facilitate presentation to healthcare services through symptom recognition by individuals and community advice. Greater awareness in primary care would help ensure IBD is included in differential diagnosis. In secondary care, greater attention to the wider needs of patients is needed-beyond diagnosis and treatment. All clinicians should consider atypical presentations and the fluctuating nature of IBD. Diagnostic overshadowing is a significant risk-where other diagnoses are already in play the risk of delay is considerable.

Gastrointestinal conditions in the multiple sclerosis prodrome

OBJECTIVE

To investigate gastrointestinal (GI)-related physician visits and drug dispensations in the 5 years preceding a first recorded demyelinating event or multiple sclerosis (MS) onset.

METHODS

Using linked administrative and clinical data from British Columbia (1996-2013), Canada, we identified an administrative cohort via a validated algorithm (n = 6863), a clinical cohort diagnosed at a MS clinic (n = 966), and matched controls (administrative cohort: n = 31,865; clinical cohort: n = 4534). In each cohort, the 5 years before a first demyelinating event or MS symptom onset (i.e., index date) were examined. We compared rates of GI-related physician visits and risk of ≥1 GI-related dispensation between MS cases and controls using negative binomial and robust Poisson models. Sex differences were tested using interaction terms.

RESULTS

The administrative cohort MS cases had higher rates of physician visits related to gastritis and duodenitis (adjusted rate/risk ratio (aRR):1.42, 95% CI: 1.10-1.83) and diseases of the esophagus (aRR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06-2.02) prior to the index date. MS cases also had greater risk of at least one dispensation for several drug classes, including constipation-related (aRR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.50-2.22), antiemetics/antinauseants (aRR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.43-1.89), and propulsives (promotility drugs; aRR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.47-1.79). Men had a disproportionally higher relative risk for propulsives than women (aRR: men = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.79-3.00; women = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.36-1.72). Several findings were similar in the smaller clinical cohort though none reached statistical significance.

INTERPRETATION

GI-related physician visits and drug dispensations were more common in the 5 years before the first demyelinating event versus matched controls. GI symptoms are a measurable feature of the prodromal or early phase of MS, with a sex difference evident.

What Do We Know about Medication Adherence Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Scoping Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

Purpose

Between 53% and 75% of people with inflammatory bowel disease, 30%-80% with rheumatoid arthritis, and up to 50% with multiple sclerosis do not take medications as prescribed to maintain remission. This scoping review aimed to identify effective adherence interventions for inflammatory bowel disease, but with few studies found, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis were included to learn lessons from other conditions.

Methods

Full and pilot randomised controlled trials testing medication adherence interventions for inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis conducted between 2012 and 2021 were identified in six electronic databases.

Results

A total of 3024 participants were included from 24 randomised controlled trials: 10 pilot and 14 full studies. Eight investigated inflammatory bowel disease, 12 rheumatoid arthritis, and four multiple sclerosis. Nine studies (37.5%) reported significantly improved medication adherence, all involving tailored, personalised education, advice or counselling by trained health professionals, with five delivered face-to-face and 1:1. Quality of effective interventions was mixed: five rated high quality, two medium and two low quality. Interventions predominantly using technology were likely to be most effective. Secondary tools, such as diaries, calendars and advice sheets, were also efficient in increasing adherence. Only 10 interventions were based on an adherence theory, of which four significantly improved adherence.

Conclusion

Tailored, face-to-face, 1:1 interactions with healthcare professionals were successful at providing personalised adherence support. Accessible, user-friendly technology-based tools supported by calendars and reminders effectively enhanced adherence. Key components of effective interventions should be evaluated and integrated further into clinical practice if viable, whilst being tailored to inflammatory conditions.

Depression in individuals who subsequently develop inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based nested case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Depression is a potential risk factor for developing IBD. This association may be related to GI symptoms occurring before diagnosis. We aimed to determine whether depression, adjusted for pre-existing GI symptoms, is associated with subsequent IBD.

DESIGN

We conducted a nested case-control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink identifying incident cases of UC and Crohn's disease (CD) from 1998 to 2016. Controls without IBD were matched for age and sex. We measured exposure to prevalent depression 4.5-5.5 years before IBD diagnosis. We created two sub-groups with prevalent depression based on whether individuals had reported GI symptoms before the onset of depression. We used conditional logistic regression to derive ORs for the risk of IBD depending on depression status.

RESULTS

We identified 10 829 UC cases, 4531 CD cases and 15 360 controls. There was an excess of prevalent depression 5 years before IBD diagnosis relative to controls (UC: 3.7% vs 2.7%, CD 3.7% vs 2.9%). Individuals with GI symptoms prior to the diagnosis of depression had increased adjusted risks of developing UC and CD compared with those without depression (UC: OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.79; CD: OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.92). Individuals with depression alone had similar risks of UC and CD to those without depression (UC: OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.29; CD: OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Depression, in the absence of prior GI symptoms, is not associated with subsequent development of IBD. However, depression with GI symptoms should prompt investigation for IBD.