P252 The cardiovascular risk profile in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A cross-sectional single-centre study (the CARE-IBD study)

J.A.M. Sleutjes1, J.E. Roeters van Lennep2, P.J. Verploegh1, C.J. van der Woude1, A.C. de Vries1

1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2Department of Vascular Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Background

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend to use a 1.5 factor CVD risk multiplier in rheumatoid arthritis, but state a gap in evidence for other inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CVD and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in IBD.

Methods

This is a single-centre cross-sectional study at the IBD outpatient clinic in September and October 2019. Patients ≥18 years underwent body measurements (systolic, diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), length, weight, waist, hip circumference), biochemical analysis (plasma glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, HDL, LDL) and completed an extensive cardiovascular questionnaire (history of CVD, thromboembolic events, medication use). To identify groups at risk of hypertension (SBP>140 or DBP>90 mmHg), overweight (>25 kg/m2), hyperlipidaemia (TC>5 mmol/l) and cardiovascular events, comparisons were made between gender, IBD subtype (Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC)) and disease activity (Harvey Bradshaw Index or Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index>5).

Results

A total of 235 IBD patients were included (112 males (48%), median age 45 years (IQR 33–55): 143 CD (61%), 92 UC (39%)). Median SBP and DBP were 135 (IQR 122–145) and 84 mmHg (IQR 66–93); hypertension was present in 43% of patients. Median BMI was 24.5 kg/m2 (IQR 21.9–27.4); 41% of patients were overweight. Hyperlipidaemia was present in 19% of patients. The self-reported prevalence of hypertension was 13%, hyperlipidaemia 8%, diabetes 4%, cardiovascular disease (heart failure, myocardial infarction, transient ischaemic attack, cerebrovascular accident) 10% and thromboembolic events (deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) 8%. Male patients showed a higher prevalence of hypertension (61%), greater waist–hip ratio (0.93, all p < .001), higher triglyceride (1.6 mmol/l, p = .003) and lower HDL levels (1.2 mmol/l, p = .000) as compared with females. CD patients were more frequently smokers (16%) with disease activity (51%)(p < .001), but showed lower levels of triglycerides (1.6 mmol/l, p = .013), TC (4.0 mmol/l) and LDL (2.3 mmol/l) (p < .001) as compared with UC. During active disease lower levels of LDL were observed as compared with remission (2.4 vs. 2.7 mmol/l, p = .040).

Conclusion

CVD are considerably prevalent in IBD patients. Well-known CVD risk factors hypertension, obesity and hyperlipidaemia are highly prevalent and remain undiagnosed in a substantial proportion of patients. Although no significant association is observed between CVD and gender or IBD subtype, CVD risk profile is different. Screening and early treatment of CVD risk factors might be recommended in IBD.