Frailty Screening is Associated with Hospitalization and Decline in Quality of Life and Functional Status in Older Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Our goals were to study frailty screening in association with hospitalization and decline in quality of life [QoL] and functional status in older patients with inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD].

METHODS

This was a prospective multicentre cohort study in IBD patients ≥65 years old using frailty screening [G8 Questionnaire]. Outcomes were all-cause, acute, and IBD-related hospitalization, any infection, any malignancy, QoL [EQ5D-3L], and functional decline (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADL]) during 18 months of follow-up. Confounders were age, IBD type, biochemical disease activity [C-reactive protein ≥10 mg/L and/or faecal calprotectin ≥250 µg/g], and comorbidity [Charlson Comorbidity Index].

RESULTS

Of 405 patients, with a median age of 70 years, 196 [48%] were screened as being at risk for frailty. All-cause hospitalizations occurred 136 times in 96 patients [23.7%], and acute hospitalizations 103 times in 74 patients [18.3%]. Risk of frailty was not associated with all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9-2.4), but was associated with acute hospitalizations [aHR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.8]. Infections occurred in 86 patients [21.2%] and these were not associated with frailty. A decline in QoL was experienced by 108 [30.6%] patients, and a decline in functional status by 46 patients [13.3%]. Frailty screening was associated with a decline in QoL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.6) and functional status [aOR 3.7, 95% CI 1.7-8.1].

CONCLUSIONS

Frailty screening is associated with worse health outcomes in older patients with IBD. Further studies are needed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of its implementation in routine care.

Deficits in geriatric assessment are important in relation to fatigue in older patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

No previous study has investigated fatigue in older patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

AIMS

To describe the prevalence of fatigue in older patients and compare it to the prevalence in younger patients with IBD, and to determine factors associated with fatigue.

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter cohort study, including older- (≥ 65 years) and younger patients with IBD (18-64 years). A geriatric assessment was performed in older patients to measure deficits in geriatric assessment (DiG). Fatigue was defined by one item from the short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire. Active disease was defined as the presence of clinical or biochemical disease activity.

RESULTS

Fatigue prevalence in the 405 older patients varied between 45.4% (71/155) in active disease to 23.6% (60/250) in remission. Fatigue prevalence in 155 younger patients was 59.5% (47/79) and 57.4% (89/155), respectively. Female sex, clinical disease activity, use of immunomodulators and presence of DiG were associated with fatigue in older patients with IBD.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatigue prevalence is lower in older patients with IBD compared to younger patients with IBD, but increases when active disease is present. Clinicians should be aware that fatigue is a relevant symptom in older patients with IBD, as it is associated with DiG.

Deficits in Geriatric Assessment Associate With Disease Activity and Burden in Older Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We aimed to perform geriatric assessment in older patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to evaluate which IBD characteristics associate with deficits in geriatric assessment and the impact of deficits on disease burden (health-related quality of life).

METHODS

A prospective multicenter cohort study including 405 consecutive outpatient patients with IBD aged ≥65 years. Somatic domain (comorbidity, polypharmacy, malnutrition), impairments in (instrumental) activities of daily living, physical capacity (handgrip strength, gait speed), and mental (depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment) and social domain (life-partner) were assessed. Deficits in geriatric assessment were defined as ≥2 abnormal domains; 2-3 moderate deficits and 4-5 severe deficits. Clinical (Harvey Bradshaw Index >4/partial Mayo Score >2) and biochemical (C-reactive protein ≥10 mg/L and/or fecal calprotectin ≥250 μg/g) disease activity and disease burden (short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire) were assessed.

RESULTS

Somatic domain (51.6%) and activities of daily living (43.0%) were most frequently impaired. A total of 160 (39.5%) patients had moderate deficits in their geriatric assessment; 32 (7.9%) severe. Clinical and biochemical disease activity associated with deficits (clinical: adjusted odds ratio, 2.191; 95% confidence interval, 1.284-3.743; P = .004; biochemical: adjusted odds ratio, 3.358; 95% confidence interval, 1.936-5.825; P < .001). Deficits in geriatric assessment independently associate with lower health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSION

Deficits in geriatric assessment are highly prevalent in older patients with IBD. Patients with active disease are more prone to deficits, and deficits associate with lower health-related quality of life, indicating higher disease burden. Prospective data validating impact of frailty and geriatric assessment on outcomes are warranted to further improve treatment strategies.

The role of mycophenolate mofetil in the management of autoimmune hepatitis and overlap syndromes

BACKGROUND

Treatment failure occurs in 20% of autoimmune hepatitis patients on prednisolone and azathioprine (AZA). There is no established second line treatment.

AIM

To assess the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil as second line treatment after AZA-intolerance or AZA-nonresponse in autoimmune hepatitis and overlap syndromes.

METHODS

Consecutive patients from the Dutch Autoimmune Hepatitis Group cohort, consisting of 661 patients, with autoimmune hepatitis or overlap syndromes, AZA-intolerance or AZA-nonresponse and past or present use of mycophenolate mofetil were included. Primary endpoint of mycophenolate mofetil treatment was biochemical remission. Secondary endpoints were biochemical response (without remission), treatment failure and prevention of disease progression.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil were included. In autoimmune hepatitis remission or response was achieved in 13% and 27% in the AZA-nonresponse group compared to 67% and 0% in the AZA-intolerance group (P = 0.008). In overlap-syndromes remission or response was reached in 57% and 14% in the AZA-nonresponse group and 63% and 25% of the AZA-intolerance group (N.S.); 33% had side effects and 13% discontinued mycophenolate mofetil. Overall 38% had treatment failure; this was 60% in the autoimmune hepatitis AZA-nonresponse group. Decompensated liver cirrhosis, liver transplantations and death were only seen in the autoimmune hepatitis AZA-nonresponse group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Mycophenolate mofetil induced response or remission in a majority of patients with autoimmune hepatitis and azathioprine-intolerance and with overlap syndromes, irrespective of intolerance or nonresponse for azathioprine. In autoimmune hepatitis with azathioprine nonresponse mycophenolate mofetil is less often effective.