Abstract
Background
Steroid exposure has been associated with poorer outcomes following colectomy in acute severe ulcerative colitis. Current treatment algorithms suggest three days of high dose intravenous steroid before the decision to commence rescue therapy. We aimed to look at medium-term outcomes in acute severe ulcerative colitis and their predictors including steroid exposure prior to admission.
Methods
A retrospective case note and electronic record review were conducted at a tertiary inflammatory bowel disease referral centre of admissions for acute severe ulcerative colitis meeting Truelove and Witts criteria from 2013 to 2019. Identified admissions were categorised as: not on steroid prior to admission or on steroid for less than one week prior to admission, on steroid for over one week prior to admission, and on steroid for over one month prior to admission. Data were analysed using Chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test as appropriate.
Results
In total, 109 admissions were identified for acute severe ulcerative colitis meeting Truelove and Witts criteria over 2013 to 2019. Rescue therapy was significantly more likely in patients with over one week of steroid exposure prior to admission (76.0% vs. 28.5%, p = 0.0001). Prior steroid exposure was not associated with failure of medical rescue therapy (p = 0.42). Patients with steroid exposure for at least one week prior to admission trended towards increased likelihood to undergo colectomy during admission (32.0% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.0.09) and were significantly more likely to undergo colectomy within one year of admission (44.0% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.028).
Excluding patients with a first presentation of inflammatory bowel disease showed that patients with steroid exposure for at least one week prior to admission trended towards significance to undergo colectomy during admission (32.0% vs. 13.2%, p = 0.05) and were significantly more likely to undergo colectomy within one year of admission (44.0% vs. 20.7%, p = 0.036). Readmissions within one year of acute severe ulcerative colitis admission were not significantly different (40.0% vs. 29.7%, p = 0.33).
Conclusion
Prolonged steroid exposure prior to admission was associated with an increased likelihood of rescue therapy but was not predictive of response to medical rescue therapy. Colectomy rates at one year were significantly higher with over one week of steroid exposure prior to admission. Consideration should be given to early commencement of rescue therapy in those with prolonged steroid exposure prior to admission.
655 – Standardizing the Care of Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis Inpatients At an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Referral Hospital
