Reversibility of Frail Phenotype in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Meta-Analysis: Prevalence of Frailty and Associated Adverse Events in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

BACKGROUND

The number of adults aged over 60 years with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing. Frailty, rather than chronological age, may be a better predictor of adverse health outcomes.

AIMS

To summarise current knowledge about frailty in adults with IBD including the prevalence and associations of frailty and IBD-related adverse outcomes.

METHODS

We performed an electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and EMBASE Classic databases using search terms for IBD and frailty from inception to 14 February 2024. All studies involving adults aged ≥ 16 with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD that included a frailty assessment were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

We included 23 observational studies involving 1,893,448 adults. Risk of bias was low for 18 studies and moderate for five. Twelve methods of frailty assessment were used, the most common being the Hospital Frailty Risk Score. Pooled prevalence of frailty in IBD patients was 18% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.4%-25.6%). Meta-analysis of unadjusted events data demonstrated that frailty increased the risk of infection-related admissions following treatment in two studies (relative risk (RR) 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-3.0), post-operative morbidity in three (RR 2.0; 95% CI 1.4-2.7) and mortality in seven (RR 4.3; 95% CI 2.6-7.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Frailty is common in patients with IBD and is associated with IBD-related adverse outcomes including infection-related admissions following treatment, post-operative morbidity and death. Future work should focus on developing risk assessment tools to better support decision making for older people with frailty and IBD.

Frailty: An Underappreciated Risk Factor for IBD Complications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The prevalence of IBD in older adults is rapidly growing. Older adults with IBD are underrepresented in research and clinical trials and yet at great risk for adverse events. Therefore, understanding advanced aged associated constructs in older adults can be critical to improving the management of older adults with IBD.

RECENT FINDINGS

In this review, we present recent studies on frailty in IBD. We identify 4 major themes in the literature: studies that describe frailty in patients with IBD, studies that report on consequences of frailty, studies of frailty as a risk stratification modality, and studies of frailty as an exposure and outcome. In reviewing the literature, we discuss the heterogeneity that exists and outline future directions to ensure appropriate applications for frailty in the field of IBD.

Considerations on Multimorbidity and Frailty in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

There are growing numbers of older people with inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD]. These older patients are more likely to have other comorbidities and polypharmacy, which can make recognizing and treating IBD complex. Frailty is a newer concept in the IBD field, and we are beginning to recognize the importance of this as a marker of biological age and its association with risk of adverse IBD-related outcomes. In this review article we aim to provide practical insight into the specific challenges facing older patients and their clinicians at each stage of the patient journey. We also discuss the latest understanding of the impact of frailty for these patients with IBD and highlight areas for future research.

Frailty risk and treatment strategy in elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease. A Norwegian nationwide population-based registry study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To determine real-world medical and surgical treatment patterns in elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease in a nationwide cohort, and to investigate associations between frailty and treatment choices.

METHODS

Norwegian health registries were used to identify adult-onset (born 1950-1989) and elderly-onset (born 1910-1949) patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) diagnosed 2010-2017 (n = 13,006). Patients were classified as no, low and intermediate/high frailty risk after the Hospital Frailty Risk Score. Outcomes included use of medical and surgical treatment.

RESULTS

Within five years, elderly-onset patients received less biologics (13% [CD], 7% [UC]) and immunomodulators (24% [CD], 11% [UC]), and major surgery was more frequent (22% [CD], 9% [UC]) than in adult-onset. Respective log rank tests were significant (p < 0.01). Compared to no frailty risk groups, elderly-onset UC with intermediate/high frailty risk had lower probability of starting biologics (4% versus 9%), immunomodulators (7% versus 13%) and 5-aminosalisylic acids (66% versus 84%), and elderly-onset CD with intermediate/high frailty risk had higher probability of starting prednisolone (67% versus 49%). Respective log rank tests were significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly-onset patients received less biologics and immunomodulators and a larger proportion underwent major surgery. Frailty risk in elderly-onset patients was associated with increased use of prednisolone, and less use of 5-aminosalisylic acids, immunomodulators and biologics.

Sarcopenia and frailty in inflammatory bowel disease: Emerging concepts and evidence

Sarcopenia is a condition marked by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function while frailty is a multidimensional concept characterized by diminished physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Both of these were previously considered as related to aging and shown to impact the quality of life and carry prognostic significance. Emerging data show that both sarcopenia and frailty carry similar relevance in chronic illness. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and malnourishment, both of which contribute to the development of sarcopenia by increasing protein breakdown and reducing protein synthesis. The coexistence of frailty further compounds the clinical complexity of IBD patients. Published evidence suggests a bidirectional association with IBD contributing to muscle wasting, while the resultant sarcopenia and frailty could further exacerbate the disease course. Sarcopenia and frailty are independently associated with adverse outcomes, including hospitalizations, increased surgical interventions, and surgical complications. As therapeutic strategies for IBD evolve, understanding the nuanced relationship between inflammatory bowel disease, sarcopenia, and frailty is crucial for devising holistic management. Comprehensive care should encompass not only disease-modifying therapies but also interventions targeting frailty and sarcopenia, as they have been shown to have a significant impact not only on the disease course but also on the quality of life. Future research could focus on further elucidating underlying mechanisms, simple screening strategies, and developing targeted interventions to improve the overall quality of life for individuals grappling with the complex interplay of IBD, sarcopenia, and frailty.

Emerging oral drug options for ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

Despite the availability of a variety of therapeutic compounds and improved management strategies, one-third of UC patients with moderate-to-severe disease do not benefit from the existing treatments or experience drug-related side effects. This has boosted intensive research focusing on the development of new drugs for UC therapy. This article aims to summarize the available evidence on oral drugs, which are now being explored in clinical trials or are ready to enter the clinics.

AREAS COVERED

From May 15 to June 11, we searched on PubMed using the keywords 'oral drugs ulcerative colitis,' 'ulcerative colitis clinical trials,' 'UC phase 2 and 3 trials' excluding case reports, case series, phase 1 and 4 studies, and studies about approved therapies.

EXPERT OPINION

The findings discussed in this article suggest that the future treatment of UC patients will be probably characterized by the possibility of using various small-molecule drugs. All these new compounds, even those belonging to the same class, differ in terms of efficacy and safety. Identification of predictors of response could help optimize the efficacy and safety of these treatments, thus improving resource allocation through a pretreatment stratification of patients.