P130 Comparison of the clinical course of Ulcerative Colitis according to the presence or absence of clinical symptoms at the time of diagnosis

Abstract

Abstract Background Asymptomatic ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasingly detected by improved screening tests such as the fecal immunochemical test. However, there have been few reports on the difference in the clinical course of UC according to the presence or absence of symptoms at diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical course of UC according to the presence or absence of clinical symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Methods Data were obtained from a retrospective chart review of 64 consecutive patients with UC diagnosed at our hospital between 2014 and 2020. Patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of clinical symptoms at the time of UC diagnosis, and clinical characteristics (age, sex, extent of disease, Mayo Score, endoscopic severity, and hematological findings) at the time of diagnosis were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. In the clinical characteristics, propensity score matched analysis was performed, and systemic steroids use, hospitalization within 1 year, and the introduction of therapies for refractory UC were evaluated. Patients with a clinical course of less than 1 year after UC diagnosis, patients intolerant to 5-aminosalicylic acid, patients with carcinoma, pregnant women, and patients under 15 years of age were excluded. Results Eligible patients were 64 UC patients (19 asymptomatic and 45 symptomatic) diagnosed at our hospital during the period of the study. The symptomatic group included 32 cases of bloody stools, 30 cases of diarrhea, 7 cases of abdominal pain, and 4 cases of fever. Multivariate analysis of clinical features at diagnosis showed significant differences in Mayo Score (p=0.003, odds ratio: 3.650, 95% confidence interval: 1.541–8.647) and serum hemoglobin level (p=0.021, odds ratio: 0.367, 95% confidence interval: 0.157–0.859). As a result of propensity score matched analysis, 24 patients (12 asymptomatic, 12 symptomatic) were selected. There were no significant differences in the rates of systemic steroid use (16.7% vs. 16.7%), hospitalization within 1 year (16.7% vs. 8.3%), and the introduction of therapies for refractory UC (16.7% vs. 8.3%) between the two groups (p=1.000 in all items). Conclusion There was no difference in the prognosis of the asymptomatic group compared with the symptomatic group using propensity score matched analysis. The results suggest that asymptomatic UC detected by colonoscopy may be acceptable for follow-up without treatment.