Inflammatory Bowel Disease Community Research Articles

Immunogenicity of Therapeutic Antibodies Used for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Treatment and Clinical Considerations.

The introduction of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors has led to a paradigm shift in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The subsequent introduction of both anti-integrins and cytokine blockers has since expanded the biologic armamentarium. However, immunogenicity, defined as the production of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) to the prescribed biopharmaceutical, means a significant fraction of patients exposed to biologic agents will experience a secondary loss of response to one or more of the drugs. In clinical settings, immunogenicity may be caused by several factors, both patient related (e.g., underlying chronic disease, systemic immune burden, including previous biologic therapy failure, and [epi]genetic background) and treatment related (e.g., dose and administration regimens, drug physical structure, photostability, temperature, and agitation). Here, we outline these elements in detail to enhance biopharmaceutical delivery and therapy for patients with IBD. Moreover, concurrent immunomodulator medication may reduce the risks of ADA generation, especially when using the chimeric drug infliximab. Summarizing the latest developments and knowledge in the field, this review aims to provide strategies to prevent ADA production and information on managing non-responsiveness or loss of response to biologics. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of ADAs and the critical factors influencing the immunogenicity of biopharmaceuticals may lead to improved health outcomes in the IBD community that may benefit both the individual patient and society through lower healthcare expenses.

Perceptions and responses to diseases among patients with inflammatory bowel disease: text-mining analysis of posts on a Japanese patient community website

Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasingly using online platforms to communicate with other patients and healthcare professionals seeking disease-related information and support. Free-text posts on these platforms could provide insights into patients’ everyday lives, which could help to improve patient care. In this proof-of-concept study, we applied text-mining to extract patient needs from free-text posts on a community forum in Japan, and holistically visualized the patients’ perceptions and their connections, and explored the patient characteristic-dependent trends in the use of words. Methods: Free-text posts written between May 11, 2020 and May 31, 2022 on the community forum were retrieved and subjected to text-mining analysis. Trends in the use of words were extracted from the posts for correspondence and co-occurrence network analyses using KH Coder open-source text-mining software. Results: Seventy-four posts were analyzed. Using text mining methods, we successfully extracted and visualized a variety of patient concerns and their connections. The correspondence and co-occurrence analyses revealed patient segment-dependent trends in the use of words. For example, patients with a disease duration of ≤5 yrs were more likely to use words related to emotions or their desire to change or quit their job, such as ‘anxiety’ and ‘resignation.’ Patients with a disease duration of >10 yrs were more likely to use words showing that they are finding ways to live with or accept their disease, and are getting used to the lifestyle but some patients continued to experience worsening disease. Conclusions: We found that free texts posted on an IBD community forum can be a useful source of information to capture the wide variety of thoughts of patients. Text mining procedures can help to visualize the relative importance of the topics identified from free text posts. Our findings of this proof-of-concept study will be useful for generating new hypotheses to better understand and address the needs of patients with IBD.

The Effects of Stigma Against HIV and Tuberculosis on Healthcare-Seeking Behavior Among Tibetan Refugees in Dharamshala, India

Patients who experience more severe symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis are associated with having greater socioeconomic challenges or higher social barrier scores (SBS). Inflammatory Bowel Disease describes two conditions, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) tract inflammation. Ulcerative Colitis is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) characterized by large intestine inflammation. Research has shown that multiple social determinants of health (SDOH) hinder achieving desirable health outcomes in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease community. These include financial strains, poor health literacy, and lack of access to education. Additionally, social barriers disproportionately affect non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic people.

The Effect of Socioeconomic Barriers on Health Outcomes in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Patients who experience more severe symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis are associated with having greater socioeconomic challenges or higher social barrier scores (SBS). Inflammatory Bowel Disease describes two conditions, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) tract inflammation. Ulcerative Colitis is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) characterized by large intestine inflammation. Research has shown that multiple social determinants of health (SDOH) hinder achieving desirable health outcomes in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease community. These include financial strains, poor health literacy, and lack of access to education. Additionally, social barriers disproportionately affect non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic people.

P814 Empowering IBD communities worldwide: The global impact of www.ibd-eii.com in disseminating evidence-based information and educational support

Abstract Background In recent decades, the volume of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research has surged, presenting a challenge for health care professionals to be updated. This is even more complicated for professionals in countries with low IBD prevalence and for registrars, fellows and other healthcare professionals. Methods IBD-EII website was launched the 8th February 2023 and serves as a comprehensive, unfunded and free platform offering up-to-date IBD evidence-based data. To highlight the impact, analyzing its first 8 months (data extracted via Google Analytics as of October 26, 2023) and using a google form questionnaire that was sent to subscribers in August 2023. Results The website encompasses over 300 trials and study summaries, along with 22 evidence-corner summaries, 102 guidelines from 12 scientific societies, 19 infographics featuring classifications and scores, 65 Cochrane meta-analyses and 13 network meta-analysis. Over the study period, there were 151,736 visits from 139 countries, with an average of 8.29 visits per user. The top-engaged countries were the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, and India (Figure 1). The site garnered 1058 subscriptions, with 10 (0.9%) individuals unsubscribing during the study period. Of the 850 invited users, 81 (9.5%) filled the questionnaire. Of them 53 (65.4%) were female. There were 49 (60.5%) healthcare professionals, 35 (43.2%) patients/family members of a patient, 4 (6%) were IBD researchers/ pharma industry workers, working for patients organization or both doctor and patient. Among healthcare professionals, 22 (44%) were IBD specialists, 14 (28%) general gastroenterologists, 4 (8%) trainees/ med school, 12 (24%) were IBD nurses/dieticians or pharmacists, 3 (6%) others. Most people have heard of the website in social media 66 (81.5%), by colleagues recommendation 8 (9.9%), congresses 7 (8.6%), or other 5 (6%). Website impact: 80 (98.8%) thought it was useful, 80 (98.8%) recommended to be subscribed. The most valuable sections were "evidence corner" 56 (69.1%) followed by guidelines 48 (59.3%) and timeline 35 (43.2%). Conclusion The data highlights the significant global impact of www.ibd-eii.com in disseminating evidence-based information to a diverse international community of healthcare professionals and patients. The website stands as a novel resource, fostering collaboration and empowerment within the global IBD community.

ECCO Grant Risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Abstract Background and Aims Although evidence has suggested an increased risk of venous thromboembolism and arteriosclerotic events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there are still substantial knowledge gaps about the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with IBD and how CVD risks vary by disease histological and clinical activity. The aims of this project are: 1) to investigate the long-term risk (both absolute and relative) of CVD in patients with IBD, and 2) to assess CVD risks for patients in different phases of histological and clinical periods of IBD. Methods We will apply epidemiological and statistical methods to tackle the proposed research questions through using data from a comprehensive linkage of a nationwide histopathology cohort, one quality register for IBD, and several nationwide registers in Sweden. Individual informed consent will be waived as the study is register-based. Anticipated Impact The project will address several important knowledge gaps and benefit the IBD community in multifaceted ways. Findings from Aim 1 will help us identify patients with IBD at a high risk of developing CVD and enhance the awareness of screening, management, and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with IBD among healthcare professionals as well as patients and their families. Findings from Aim 2 will contribute towards an improved comprehension of CVD risk in different periods of histological and clinical activity, which can offer novel insights into guiding current therapeutic strategies aiming to mitigate the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in IBD patients. Overall, knowledge from our project can provide valuable evidence for the development of clinical guidelines for CVD management in patients with IBD. Currently, such guidelines remain underdeveloped.

Review and content analysis of mobile apps for inflammatory bowel disease management using the mobile application rating scale (MARS): Systematic search in app stores

BackgroundPeople with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) need tools for self-management of their disease with the ultimate goal of improving medication adherence and health outcomes. Mobile apps represent a novel opportunity to provide self-management for patients with IBD. Many mobile apps have been developed for IBD self-management, but more evidence is needed about the quality of these mobile apps. ObjectiveThis study evaluated mobile apps developed for the IBD community and rated the quality of these apps to provide a roadmap for future development. Materials and methodsThe Apple App Store and Google Play Store were systematically searched to identify IBD mobile apps for patients and physicians based on the IBD-related keywords. We included mobile apps that focus on IBD, are in the English language, and are free. The related app quality was evaluated independently by two reviewers using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). ResultsWe identified 401 mobile apps. After removing duplicates and unrelated apps, 44 apps were included in the review. Overall, the mean MARS scores were 3.5 (SD = 0.5) on a scale from 1.00 to 5.00, which was the acceptable range.; 12 apps got scores ≥ 4.00. The highest mean domain score belonged to the functionality dimension (mean = 3.9, SD = 0.6) and the lowest belonged to the engagement dimension (mean = 3.2, SD = 0.8). ConclusionThe MARS ratings showed that the IBD mobile apps quality meet acceptable criteria. However, more attention must be paid to design features that improve user interest and engagement, especially among children and adolescents. Healthcare professional involvement is crucial for designing mobile health apps.

A Specific Carbohydrate Diet Virtual Teaching Kitchen Curriculum Promotes Knowledge and Confidence in Caregivers of Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Diet-based approaches such as the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) have proposed health benefits for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Despite its potential effectiveness, patients and caregivers identified barriers towards implementing the SCD, and a majority expressed interest in formal education surrounding the SCD. This study aimed to determine the impact of a virtual teaching kitchen curriculum on caregivers' knowledge and perspectives on implementing the SCD. Inclusion criteria included pediatric patients with IBD aged 3-21 years and their caregivers. Participants should have fewer than 12 months of experience with the SCD or have no experience with the SCD but with an interest in learning it. Twenty-three caregivers took part in a 90-min virtual teaching kitchen curriculum and completed pre- and post-session surveys. Caregivers had statistically significant increases in total curriculum scores (p < 0.0001) as well as increases in all curricular elements post-curriculum teaching. Caregivers indicated that they plan to apply the newly acquired recipes and cooking concepts and appreciated the encouragement and support they received during the course. Curricular strengths identified included the innovative multimodal curriculum structure and professional and community support. IBD centers can use this pilot study to create or expand SCD and other nutritional curricula for the IBD community.

A188 INFORMING IMMUNOCOMPROMISED POPULATIONS: AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT COVID-19 KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION STRATEGY

Abstract Background Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the major challenges was conveying expert health information, which was evolving rapidly, to confer population-level advice; this was especially relevant to at risk groups, such as those who are immunocompromised due to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or medications to manage disease. Purpose To provide sufficient information to those with IBD (&amp;gt;0.75% of the Canadian population or roughly 300,000 individuals) and their carers to allow self assessment of personal risks related to COVID-19. Method On March 17, 2020, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC) convened the COVID-19 &amp; IBD Taskforce comprised of adult and pediatric gastroenterologists, IBD nurses, infectious disease experts, scientists, public health officials, communication and government relations experts, and patient advisors. The taskforce met weekly (later monthly) to synthesize rapidly evolving information on COVID-19 and personal risk assessment. Expert reviews of population-level recommendations were tailored to the IBD community and communicated through website FAQs and infographics; a public-oriented burden report with foci on additional special populations (e.g., pregnant people, pediatrics, seniors), IBD medications, and mental health and access to care during the pandemic; and through a moderated, online webinar series. The 1- to 2-hour webinar recordings were then curated into 3- to 5-minute video clips to answer specific questions and uploaded to CCC’s YouTube page. YouTube and website metrics show the continued efficacy of this strategy. Result(s) More than 24,778 households registered for the first 23 webinars, with more than one third registering for more than one webinar. As of April 1, 2021 (just after the 23rd webinar), there have been 54,136 views of the archived full (1- to 2-hour) webinars and a further 78,862 views of individual webinar segments (3- to 5-minute curated clips), for a total of 126,187 views. Additionally, traffic to the CCC website increased exponentially with 484,755 unique views to the COVID-19 web pages, viewed for up to 28.29 minutes. Since April 2021, after an additional seven webinars, these numbers have continued to swell to 33,243 (registrants), 81,370 (webinar views), 92,862 (segment views), and 810,156 (unique website views); this is demonstrative of the continued impact of the electronic knowledge translation strategy. Image Conclusion(s) While many within the IBD community were secluded during the early portions of the pandemic due to lockdown restrictions and public health advice not tailored to immunocompromised individuals, advice tailored to this community and presented through electronic methods proved to be an effective and efficient knowledge translation strategy. Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below CCC Disclosure of Interest None Declared

British Dietetic Association consensus guidelines on the nutritional assessment and dietary management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Despite increased awareness of diet and nutrition being integral to the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there are gaps in the knowledge of IBD healthcare providers regarding nutrition. Furthermore, high quality evidence on nutritional assessment and dietary management of IBD is limited. A Delphi consensus from a panel of experts allows for best-practice guidelines to be developed, especially where high quality evidence is limited. The aim was to develop guidelines for the nutritional assessment and dietary management of IBD using an eDelphi online consensus agreement platform. Seventeen research topics related to IBD and nutrition were systematically reviewed. Searches in Cochrane, Embase®, Medline® and Scopus® electronic databases were performed. GRADE was used to develop recommendations. Experts from the IBD community (healthcare professionals and patients with IBD) were invited to vote anonymously on the recommendations in a custom-built online platform. Three rounds of voting were carried out with updated iterations of the recommendations and evaluative text based on feedback from the previous round. From 23,824 non-duplicated papers, 167 were critically appraised. Fifty-five participants completed three rounds of voting and 14 GRADE statements and 42 practice statements achieved 80% consensus. Comprehensive guidance related to nutrition assessment, nutrition screening and dietary management is provided. Guidelines on the nutritional assessment and dietary management of IBD have been developed using evidence-based consensus to improve equality of care. The statements and practice statements developed demonstrate the level of agreement and the quality and strength of the guidelines.

Exploring Patient Perspectives on a 12-Week Online, Stress Reduction Intervention in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Online stress reduction interventions may be useful adjuncts to standard medical therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As part of the evaluation of a 12-week randomized control trial (RCT) of an online multicomponent stress reduction program, our aim for the current study was to use qualitative methods to more deeply explore the patient experience with the online programming. Upon completion of the 12-week RCT, all intervention participants were invited to participate in semistructured interviews. A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Interviews were analyzed through a theoretical thematic analysis process, whereby transcripts were coded, and codes then grouped into larger categories and themes. A total of 56 interviews were analyzed with the emergence of 3 main themes: (1) IBD as a source of stress and uncertainty, (2) understanding the positive impacts of the stress reduction program, and (3) suggested strategies to enhance program desirability. IBD was described as causing uncertainty, significant disruptions to daily activities, and stress, which in turn worsened symptoms. The online program was associated with a perceived reduction in IBD symptom burden, an increased ability to manage daily and disease-associated stressors, and a more positive mindset. Variation in program content and fostering connections with others in the IBD community were identified as potential strategies to enhance future programming. This qualitative companion study highlights the power of the patient voice to deepen our understanding of the impact of IBD, and the potential benefit of an online stress reduction program including suggestions for iterative refinement.

Precision Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Challenges and Considerations for the Path Forward

Precision Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Challenges and Considerations for the Path Forward

Review article: randomised controlled trials in inflammatory bowel disease-common challenges and potential solutions.

Recruitment rates for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis clinical trials continue to decrease annually. The inability to reach recruitment targets and complete trials has serious implications for stakeholders in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) community. Action is required to ensure patients with an unmet medical need have access to new therapies to improve the management of their IBD. Identify challenges contributing to recruitment decline in IBD clinical trials and propose potential solutions. PubMed and Google were used to identify literature, regulatory guidelines and conference proceedings related to IBD clinical trials and related concepts. Data on IBD clinical trials conducted between 1989 and 2020 were extracted from the Trialtrove database. Key aspects that may improve recruitment rates were identified. An increasingly patient-centric approach should be taken to study design including improvements to the readability of key trial documentation and inclusion of patient representatives in trial planning. Placebo is unappealing to patients; approaches including platform trials should be explored to minimise placebo exposure. Non-invasive imaging, biomarkers and novel digital endpoints should continue to be examined to reduce the burden on patients. Reducing the administrative burden associated with trials via the use of electronic signatures, for example, may benefit study sites and investigators. Changes implemented to IBD trials during the COVID-19 pandemic provided examples of how trial conduct can be rapidly and constructively adapted. To improve recruitment in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis trials, the IBD community should address a broad range of issues related to clinical trial conduct.

EXPLORING SELF-MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN AN ONLINE INSTAGRAM SUPPORT COMMUNITY

Abstract PURPOSE The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore disease self-management challenges posted in an online Instagram support community by adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). BACKGROUND For the estimated 6.8 million people worldwide living with IBD, effective disease self-management is paramount to supporting positive disease outcomes including quality of life. IBD self-management is highly individualized and can include a combination of medication management, ostomy management, and lifestyle modification. Self-management can be a complex process as it is often influenced by unpredictable disease trajectory. AYAs are disproportionately affected by IBD and experience myriad psychosocial and self-management challenges considering their stage of development and disease status. Youth with chronic conditions often turn to social media as a source of information and support. Instagram is a popular social media platform among AYAs, with more than one-third of users falling between 13 and 24 years of age. Harnessing this real-world data can reveal the authentic self-management challenges of AYAs with IBD. METHODS Public Instagram posts between January and December 2019 were manually extracted from an online IBD support community with over 16,7000 followers (see examples in Figure 1). We extracted posts about self-management from Instagram users who: 1) indicated they had IBD; and 2) stated they were 13-24 years old or in middle school, high school, or college. Using thematic analysis, authors independently coded and identified emerging themes about IBD self-management challenges (Figure 2). Authors discussed any disagreement about identified themes through an iterative process until consensus was reached. RESULTS Out of 2,700 posts assessed for eligibility, 83 met inclusion criteria. Six major themes about self-management emerged: Desire for Normalcy, Dietary Changes, Education and Career, Healthcare System, Relationships with Others, and Symptoms and Complications. Additionally, nine subthemes emerged: Finding Balance, Wanting a Normal Life, Transitioning to College and Work, Handling School, Understanding Diagnosis, Accessing Health Services, Navigating Treatment and Side Effects, Managing Significant Relationships, and Seeking Peers with IBD. Self-management challenges permeated every aspect of life, including relationships, school activities, and aspirations for the future. CONCLUSIONS Our findings represent the first thematic analysis of Instagram posts in an online IBD community and provide a crucial perspective of the concerns of AYAs with IBD. Self-management challenges were wide-ranging and complex, highlighting the gap between self-management needs and skills in this population. Future research should further explore these challenges to develop tailored self-management interventions to improve quality of life in AYAs with IBD.

Modifying Crohn's Colitis Recurrence Through Surgery? The Jury Is Still Out.

Data suggesting that the mesentery plays an important pathophysiologic role in Crohn's disease and recurrence make the mesentery an attractive therapeutic target during surgical management of Crohn's disease. A new study by Zhu et al. demonstrates that patients with Crohn's colitis who undergo a more extensive mesenteric resection may have a lower rate of needing subsequent operations. We discuss some of the reasons why these data, although much needed by the inflammatory bowel disease community, do not yet sway standard surgical practice for Crohn's colitis.

P059 Impact of PHQ-9 Screen on Early Identification of Depression in IBD Clinic.

Over the past two decades there has been significant research linking inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to depression. The chronicity of symptoms coupled with the financial burden of treatment costs, missed days of work/school and interpersonal relationship stress are contributing factors in the diagnosis of depression. The prevalence of depression within the IBD community is 15% and depressive symptoms are noted in 20% of patients. Furthermore, IBD patients with severe uncontrolled disease have higher rates of depression (40.7%) than those in remission (16.5%). The association between IBD and depression is linked to lower quality of life, poor medication compliance, worse disease outcomes, increased hospitalization, and higher suicidal risk. Early diagnosis and treatment of depression in IBD patients is paramount in achieving and maintaining IBD disease remission. While the association between IBD and depression is well-known, identifying depression can be a challenge. Review of recent literature shows that depression is under screened in IBD clinics. We present a prospective quality improvement study at a robust IBD center evaluating the impact of a validated depression screen (PHQ-9) on identifying depression compared to standard of care. We compared the prevalence of depression in the IBD clinic in the control group using the history and diagnosis of depression and compared it against the intervention group after HQ-9 screening. Control group patient data was collected from June 2020 to July 2020 via virtual and in person visits. Intervention group PHQ-9 data was collected in person visits from January - March 2020 and post-intervention data collection was placed on hold until November 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. One randomly selected patient from each clinic session was asked to participate in the study at the time of visit. The primary end point was to compare the rates of depression and identify any barriers in providing early treatment for depression. The secondary endpoint was to identify high risk patients that are prone to depression. Categorical variables were analyzed by chi square analysis or fischer exact tests. Numerical data were analyzed using T-test. A total of 111 patients were screened. 60 patients were randomized to the control group (i.e. EMR based review for depression) and 51 patients were screened via survey during in person clinic visit. The identified depression rate from control vs intervention group is 20% vs. 35% (p = 0.071). Rates of depression were 15% in non-fistulizing Crohn's disease vs. 41.4% in fistulizing Crohn's disease (p = 0.003). Multivariate model for predicting depression noted to be significant for extra-intestinal manifestations OR of 3.06 (1.03, 9.12) p = 0.045 and age OR of 0.97 (0.94, 1.00) p = 0.042. Control vs. intervention identification of depression in patients with extra-intestinal manifestations is notable for OR of 3.31 (1.15, 9.52) p = 0.026 in the univariate model and OR of 3.30 (1.07, 10.16) p = 0.038 in the multivariate model. Key findings including identification of depression is higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. Though the data is not statistically significant, this is likely secondary to the small sample size in the setting of the pandemic. In addition, univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant finding that the older the age of the patient, the less likely they are to have depression. Our data showed that the mean age of depressed patients was 38.3 compared to nondepressed patients whose mean age is 47.1. Further analysis can help elucidate this finding, for example identifying if older patients are being treated for depression or more likely to seek out therapists compared to younger patients. Univariate analysis also revealed that intestinal Crohn's disease was a risk factor for depression. This is possibly secondary to the severity of disease in these individuals, especially if their IBD is causing an impact on their quality of life. Looking into the number of hospitalizations, days off from work or school, and coexisting medical diagnoses can allow us to further understand if depression stems from their disease. Given preliminary findings, we plan to continue this study for a larger sample size and further determine if there is a significant delay in identifying depression with the current standard of care.

Crohn's and Colitis Canada's 2021 Impact of COVID-19 and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Executive Summary.

Persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) make up more than 0.75% of the Canadian population in 2021. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with IBD, particularly those on immunosuppressive therapies, were concerned that their health status may place them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or experiencing more severe disease course if infected with SARS-CoV-2. In response, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada developed the COVID-19 and IBD Taskforce in March 2020 to rapidly synthesize the evolving knowledge of COVID-19 as relevant to Canadians with IBD. The Taskforce communicated expert information directly to the Canadian IBD community through online tools and a webinar series. In order to understand the full impact of COVID-19 on the IBD community, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada commissioned a policy report that was informed through a systematic literature review and synthesized across working groups along the following domains: Epidemiology, Children and Expectant Mothers with IBD, Seniors with IBD, Mental Health, Risk Factors and Medications, Vaccines, and Healthcare Delivery during the Pandemic and the Future Model of IBD Care. This report from Canadian physicians, researchers, and IBD community representatives highlights the physical, mental, and health systems impact of COVID-19 on the entire spectrum of the IBD community, including children, adolescents, adults, seniors, and pregnant people with IBD. This executive summary provides an overview of the crucial information from each of the chapters of the policy report, supplemented with additional information made available through Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s webinar-based knowledge translation platform.

Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses in Patients With IBD Treated With Biologics: Are We Finding CLARITY?

Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses in Patients With IBD Treated With Biologics: Are We Finding CLARITY?

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Transcriptome and Metatranscriptome Meta-Analysis (IBD TaMMA) framework

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a class of chronic disorders whose etiogenesis is still unknown. Despite the high number of IBD-related omics studies, the RNA-sequencing data produced results that are hard to compare because of the experimental variability and different data analysis approaches. We here introduce the IBD Transcriptome and Metatranscriptome Meta-Analysis (TaMMA) framework, a comprehensive survey of publicly available IBD RNA-sequencing datasets. IBD TaMMA is an open-source platform where scientists can explore simultaneously the freely available IBD-associated transcriptomics and microbial profiles thanks to its interactive interface, resulting in a useful tool to the IBD community.

Social media in inflammatory bowel disease: the patient and physician perspective.

Social media use by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their respective providers continues to increase, promoting disease awareness and scholarship. In this review article, we summarize the current literature regarding social media use and IBD, discuss both the patient and physician perspective, and provide guidance to avoid commonly encountered pitfalls. Patients and providers commonly rely on social media to share medical information, advocate for improved IBD care, and to network and collaborate on common research interests. This shift from more traditional formats of education and networking continues to grow exponentially, and even more rapidly so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media use in the IBD community will continue to grow and lead to further innovation. Providers should be aware of social media as a valuable tool for their patients and themselves.