Background and aims: The impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis on long-term outcomes of ulcerative colitis (UC) flares remains controversial. Methods: A total of 257 UC patients with moderate-to-severe flares were observed for a mean follow-up of 41.2 months. CMV colitis was defined as histopathologic confirmation of CMV inclusions obtained from macroscopic endoscopic lesions in patients with UC flares. An independent gastrointestinal pathologist prospectively reviewed all specimens. A poor outcome was defined as any of hospitalization, colectomy or death during the follow-up period. Results: The prevalence of CMV colitis was 14% (36/257) over the 10-year study period (2007–2016). When compared to the controls, patients with CMV colitis were characterized by older age, higher disease activity, endoscopic deep ulcerations and more frequent use of immunosuppressive drugs (all p < .05). In total, 57 outcome events (50 hospitalizations, seven colectomies) were observed among the study population (44.7% in patients with CMV colitis vs. 18.9% in controls). The cumulative probability of a poor outcome was significantly greater in the patients with CMV colitis than in the controls (log-rank test p < .001). In a multivariable analysis, CMV colitis remained as an independent predictor of a poor outcome (hazard ratio; 2.27; 95% confidence interval: 1.12–4.60). Despite a generally favorable response to antiviral therapy (79%), the risk of recurrent CMV colitis remained quite high (57%). Most of the recurrences developed within 8 months (75%). Conclusions: True CMV colitis is a poor prognostic indicator among patients with UC flares. An effective strategy for managing recurrent CMV colitis is urgently needed (KCT0003296).

Introduction: We explored the long-term evolution of direct healthcare costs for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) using a population-level database in a country with an escalating burden of IBD. Methods: We searched the database of the Korean National Health Insurance Claims, which covers more than 97% of the South Korean population. An IBD diagnosis was defined as the combination of a billing code for Crohn’s disease (CD: K50.xx) or ulcerative colitis (UC: K51.xx) and at least one claim for IBD-specific drugs. Between 2006 and 2015, a total of 59,447 patients (CD: 17,677; UC: 41,770) were included. Results: The total and mean cost per capita increased significantly over time. In the last year of the study (2015), the cost for anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy accounted for 68.8% (CD) and 48.8% (UC) of the total cost. Age at diagnosis (<20 years vs. ≥30 years) and anti-TNF use were independent predictors of increased total IBD cost. Anti-TNF therapy was the strongest predictor of high-cost outliers (designated as the top 20 percentile of the total costs) for IBD (OR: 160.4; 95% CI: 89.0–289.2). The mean cost among patients with newly diagnosed CD increased significantly over the 8-year follow-up period (p = .03), while costs associated with UC remained stable. Only medication costs increased significantly during the follow-up period for CD. Conclusions: Over the past 10 years, the increased usage of anti-TNF agents has been the key driver of IBD-related healthcare costs. Long-term cost-cutting strategies for patients with CD are warranted.

Byun JM, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2015 Feb;30(2):173-179. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.2.173