Are we ready for telemonitoring inflammatory bowel disease? A review of advances, enablers, and barriers

Position statement of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis on the use of Telemedicine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic digestive condition that requires continuous monitoring by healthcare professionals to determine appropriate therapy and manage short- and long-term complications. Telemedicine has become an essential approach for managing chronic conditions such as IBD, improving care accessibility and continuity, decreasing hospitalization rates, and optimizing patient follow-up. It enables rapid treatment adjustments and encourages patient self-management. Additionally, it reduces the burden on the healthcare system by decreasing unnecessary in-person visits and provides real-time support, thereby improving quality of life and clinical outcomes. The objective of this position statement by the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU) is to establish recommendations for the use of telemedicine in its different modalities (teleconsulting, telemonitoring, mobile applications and telepharmacy) for patients with IBD and address the legal, ethical, and technical aspects necessary for its proper implementation.

Telemonitoring of Active Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using the App TECCU: Short-Term Results of a Multicenter Trial of GETECCU

BACKGROUND

Telemonitoring for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not consistently demonstrated superiority over standard care; however, noninferiority may be an acceptable outcome if remote care proves to be more efficient.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to compare the remission time and quality of life of patients with active IBD managed through standard care versus the TECCU (Telemonitoring of Crohn Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) app.

METHODS

A 2-arm, randomized, multicenter trial with a noninferiority design was conducted across 24 hospitals in Spain. The study included adult patients with IBD who were starting immunosuppressive or biological therapy. Participants were randomized into 2 groups: the telemonitoring group (G_TECCU) and the standard care group (G_Control). The follow-up schedule for the telemonitoring group (G_TECCU) was based on contacts via the TECCU app, while the control group (G_Control) adhered to standard clinical practice, which included in-person visits and telephone calls. In both groups, treatment adjustments were made based on the progression of disease activity and medication adherence, assessed using specific indices and biological markers at each check-up. The primary outcome was the duration of remission after 12 weeks, while secondary outcomes included quality of life, medication adherence, adverse events, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Of the 169 patients enrolled, 158 were randomized and 150 were analyzed per protocol: telemonitoring (n=71) and control (n=79). After 12 weeks, the time in clinical remission was not inferior in the telemonitoring group (mean 4.20, SD 3.73 weeks) compared with the control group (mean 4.32, SD 3.28 weeks), with a mean difference between arms of -0.12 weeks (95% CI -1.25 to 1.01; noninferiority P=.02). The mean reduction in C-reactive protein values was -15.40 mg/L (SD 90.15 mg/L; P=.19) in the G_TECCU group and -13.16 mg/L (SD 54.61 mg/L; P=.05) in the G_Control group, with no significant differences between the 2 arms (P=.73). Similarly, the mean improvement in fecal calprotectin levels was 832.3 mg/L (SD 1825.0 mg/L; P=.003) in the G_TECCU group and 1073.5 mg/L (SD 3105.7 mg/L; P=.03) in the G_Control group; however, the differences were not statistically significant (P=.96). Quality of life improved in both groups, with a mean increase in the 9-item Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire score of 13.44 points (SD 19.1 points; P<.001) in the G_TECCU group and 18.23 points (SD 22.9 points; P=.001) in the G_Control group. Additionally, the proportion of patients who adhered to their medication significantly increased from 35% (25/71) to 68% (48/71) in the G_TECCU group (P=.001) and from 46% (36/79) to 73% (58/79) in the G_Control group (P=.001). The satisfaction rate remained stable at around 90%, although noninferiority was not demonstrated for the secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Telemonitoring patients with active IBD is not inferior to standard care for achieving and maintaining short-term remission. The TECCU app may serve as a viable alternative follow-up tool, pending confirmation of improved health outcomes and cost-effectiveness over the long-term.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06031038; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06031038.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/resprot.9639.

Navigating new horizons in inflammatory bowel disease: Integrative approaches and innovations

This editorial offers an updated synthesis of the major advancements in the management and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as documented in the World Journal of Gastroenterology between 2023 and early 2024. This editorial explores substantial developments across key research areas, such as intestinal microecology, computational drug discovery, dual biologic therapy, telemedicine, and the integration of lifestyle changes into patient care. Furthermore, the discussion of emerging topics, including bowel preparation in colonoscopy, the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and the intersection between IBD and mental health, reflects a shift toward a more holistic approach to IBD research. By integrating these diverse areas of research, this editorial seeks to promote a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to IBD treatment, combining emerging technologies, personalized medicine, and conventional therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Developing Mobile Health Applications for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review of Features and Technologies

Background

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) require lifelong treatment, which significantly impacts their quality of life. Self-management of this disease is an effective factor in managing chronic conditions and improving patients' quality of life. The use of mobile applications is a novel approach to providing self-management models and healthcare services for patients with IBD. The present systematic review aimed to identify the features and technologies used in the development of IBD disease management applications.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases up to August 8, 2023, which included initial searches, screening studies, assessing eligibility and risk of bias, and study selection. The data extraction form was based on the study objectives, including bibliographic information from articles, such as the first author's name, year of publication, country of origin, and details related to mobile health applications, such as the name of the application, features and technologies used, advantages and disadvantages, main outcomes, and other results. The content of the research was analyzed according to the research objectives.

Results

In the initial review of four databases, a total of 160 articles were retrieved and subsequently entered into EndNote. After removing duplicates and irrelevant studies based on title, abstract, and full-text assessments, 12 articles were finally selected. The studies were conducted between the years 2015 and 2024. 100% of the applications designed for patients with IBD were aimed at treatment, 83% were for self-management of the disease, and 33% of the applications were intended for disease diagnosis. The features of IBD management applications were categorized into four groups: education, monitoring, counseling, and diagnosis and treatment.

Conclusion

Various mobile applications have been developed for the management of IBD, each differing in features and technologies used. While current IBD applications have limited capabilities in diagnosing disease severity, they still hold significant potential in empowering patients through education, counseling, and monitoring. The integration of artificial intelligence and decision support systems may enhance the effectiveness and reliability of these applications.

Management and treatment optimization of patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with a significant health-care burden worldwide. While medical therapy aims to induce and maintain remission, optimal management of mild to moderate UC remains challenging due to heterogeneity in severity classifications and non-standardized approaches. This comprehensive review summarizes current evidence and knowledge gaps to optimize clinical decision-making in patients with mild to moderate UC.

AREAS COVERED

After an extensive literature search of PubMed, Medline, and Embase through August 2023, we provide an overview of definitions utilized to characterize mild to moderate UC severity and established therapeutic targets. Current medical treatments including mesalazine formulations, corticosteroids, and their combinations are surveyed. The role of emerging intestinal ultrasound, telemedicine, and home testing is explored. Individualized, patient-centered paradigms aiming to streamline care delivery through proactive identification of relapses are also examined.

EXPERT OPINION

Addressing inconsistencies in disease activity stratification will better align tailored regimens with each patient's profile. Advancing noninvasive technologies like ultrasound criteria and home testing could improve UC management by enabling personalized models. Realizing individualized plans through informed shared-decision making between health-care providers and fully engaged patients holds promise to maximize quality of life outcomes. Continuous improvement relies on innovation bridging different domains to overcome current limitations and push the field toward more predictive and tailored care.

Editor-in-Chief articles of choice and comments at the year-end of 2023

As the Editor-in-Chief of World Journal of Gastroenterology, every week prior to a new issue's online publication, I perform a careful review of all encompassed articles, including the title, clinical and/or research importance, originality, novelty, and ratings by the peer reviewers. Based on this review, I select the papers of choice and suggest pertinent changes (e.g., in the title) to the Company Editors responsible for publication. This process, while time-consuming, is very important for assuring the quality of publications and highlighting important articles that Readers may revisit.

Telemedicine in inflammatory bowel disease from its origin to the post pandemic golden age: A narrative review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder encompassing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can be disabling and often requires lifelong treatment and follow-up. Digital health technologies and distance-management tools are less costly alternatives for IBD management and clinical monitoring. This review discusses how telephone/videoconference appointments enable treatment optimization from an early disease stage, provide complementary value-based patient care and educational resources, and allow consistent follow-up with a high standard of care. Replacing/supplementing traditional clinical consultations with telemedicine reduces healthcare utilization costs and the need for in-person consultations. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the evolution of telemedicine in IBD, with several studies conducted since 2020 reporting high levels of patient satisfaction. Home-based injectable formulations coupled with telemedicine may become permanently embedded in healthcare systems in the post-pandemic period. While telemedicine consultations are well-accepted by many patients with IBD, they do not suit all patients or are not preferred (e.g., by elderly who do not have the means or ability to understand the associated technology). Ultimately, use of telemedicine should be decided by the patient and careful consideration is required to ensure that the patient is willing and capable of a successful remote visit.

Telemedicine in inflammatory bowel diseases: A new brick in the medicine of the future?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic digestive disease that requires continuous monitoring by healthcare professionals to determine the appropriate therapy and monitor short-term and long-term complications. The progressive development of information technology has enabled healthcare personnel to deliver care services to patients remotely. Therefore, various applications of telemedicine in IBD management have evolved, including telemonitoring, teleconsulting, teleducation, telenursing, telenutrition, and telepathology. While evidence has been provided for some telemedicine applications, targeted studies are still required. This review summarises the major studies that have evaluated telemedicine and its application in the management of IBD.