P570 The burden of anaemia remains significant over time in patients with inflammatory bowel disease at a tertiary referral centre
K. Singh Singh1, A. Al-Khoury1, Z. Kurti2, L. Gonczi3, P. Golovics3, R. Kohen1, W. Afif1, G. Wild1, E. Seidman1, A. Bitton1, T. Bessissow1, P. Lakatos2
1McGill University, Division of Gastroenterology Department of Medicine, Montreal, Canada, 2Semmelweis University, 1st Department of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary, 3HDF Medical Centre, Division of Gastroenterology, Budapest, Hungary
Background
Anaemia is an important complication and/or extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as a predictor of poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of anaemia and the frequency of anaemia screening over time, at a tertiary referral IBD centre.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the occurrence of anaemia at the time of referral or diagnosis and during follow-up at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) IBD centre. Consecutive patients presenting with an outpatient visit (‘index visit’) between July and December 2016 and between December 2018 and March 2019 were included. Disease characteristics, biochemistry and medical management, including the need for intravenous iron therapy were captured.
Results
1356 and 1293 CD and UC patients [disease duration: 12 (IQR:6–22) and 10 (IQR: 5–19) years] were included in the 2 periods. The prevalence of moderate or severe anaemia at referral/diagnosis (15.4% and 8.5%) and during the follow-up (11.1% and 8.1%) was higher in CD than in UC patients, with a decrease of anaemia in CD patients between the 2 periods. The prevalence of any anaemia at follow-up was 22.4% and 18.7% in CD and in UC, while 82.7% of patients were tested at least once for anaemia during a 6-month period. UC patients with more extensive disease, treated with steroids or biologics at the time of referral but not during follow-up, active disease, or an elevated calprotectin at the time of assessment, and CD patients with active disease, elevated CRP or calprotectin at the time of assessment, with complicated disease, perianal involvement, previous respective surgery or colonic disease location, had a higher risk of anaemia. Intravenous iron therapy was prescribed in 46 patients (46.8% patients (37/79) with moderate or severe anaemia) with 72.3% having active disease (CD: 65.2%, steroid 83.3%, biological therapy: 78.6%, CRP: 97.8%, FCAL: 73.9%) in the second cohort. 91.3% of patients receiving intravenous iron had an extensive evaluation of anaemia pre- and post-therapy (CBC, ferritin, transferrin, TSAT, B12, folate). Anaemia improved by >2g/l in 56.5% after 4–6 weeks (intravenous iron dose >1000mg in 87% of patients). Four patients required a blood transfusion.
Conclusion
Anaemia occurred frequently in this IBD cohort, at referral to the centre and during follow-up, and contributes to the burden of IBD in referral populations. Most patients were assessed for anaemia regularly and with accurate anaemia workup in patients prescribed intravenous iron therapy, yet the targeted management of moderate to severe anaemia was suboptimal.