Changing phenotype, early clinical course and clinical predictors of irritable bowel syndrome in Sri Lanka: a prospective, multi-centre descriptive study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in the Asia Pacific, with changes in phenotype and disease course been reported. METHODS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) cases from four national referral centres were included. Phenotype was compared for cases [Group-1/G1-diagnosed between June/2003-December/2009, Group-2/G2-January/2010-June/2016]. Early clinical course (ECC) [complicated disease (Comp D-stricturing/penetrating CD, extensive-UC/pancolitis), treatment refractory disease (TRD-frequently-relapsing, steroid-dependent/refractory, biologics), disease complications (DC-perforation/bleeding/colectomy/malignancy)] among disease duration <3 years, and clinical predictors (CP) of CompD/TRD/DC among disease duration >1 year were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 452-cases [G1: UC-89 (78.8%), CD-24 (21.2%); G2: UC-197 (58.1%), CD-142 (41.9%)] were included. G2 had a higher proportion of CD (p<0.001). In both groups, leftsided colitis (E2) for UC, ileo-colonic (L3)/non-stricturing, non-penetrating (B1) for CD predominated. More penetrating-CD (B3) in G2 (p<0.01) and more stricturing-CD (B2) in G1 (p<0.05) were noted. ECC was assessed in 293 patients [UC-168 (57.3%), CD-125 (42.7%)]. Among UC: extensive/pan-colitis (E3)-40 (24.5%), severe (S3)-38 (42.2%); among CD:severe episodes-15 (25.9%), stricturing (B2)/penetrating(B3)-18 (14.7%), perianal-disease (P)-29 (23.4%). TRD was seen in 19 (11.3%)-UC and 17 (10.1%)-CD. Immunomodulator use was-70 (41.7%)/93 (74.4%), and anti-TNF use was 3 (1.8%)/12 (9.6%) respectively for UC and CD. Complications for UC: bleeding-6 (3.6%), malignancy-1 (0.6%), surgery-3 (1.8%); for CD: stricture-6 (4.9%), perforation-3 (2.4%), malignancy-1 (0.8%), surgery-2 (1.6%). CP were assessed in 373 [UC-266 (71.3%), CD 107 (28.7%)]. EIM of joints predicted CompD in UC/CD (OR-1.94/OR-2.28). Family history (OR=8.64) and EIM of joints (OR=10.07) predicted DC in UC. CONCLUSION: There was an increase in CD during the study period, but no changes in disease phenotype for UC or CD. Although admissions with CompD were common for UC (but not CD), few patients had TRD or DCs indicating a relatively benign early disease course. Family history, EIM of joints predicted poor outcomes in UC, EIM of joints predicted a poor outcome in CD.