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Risk for HF hospitalization more than doubled during IBD flares

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The risk for hospitalization for HF is more than doubled during active stages of inflammatory bowel disease, researchers reported at the Heart Failure Congress 2014.

In a nationwide cohort study conducted in Denmark, researchers evaluated more than 5.4 million Danish adults with no history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), defined as Crohn’s disease and/or ulcerative colitis, or HF. The patients were enrolled in January 1997 and followed until Dec. 31, 2011, or until first hospitalization for HF or death.

Of those included in the study, IBD developed in 23,681 patients. Disease activity, including flares, persistent activity and/or remission, was monitored during a mean follow-up of 11.8 years in the reference population and 6.4 years in the IBD group. Flares were defined as a prescription or hospitalization following a quiescent period. Persistent activity was defined as repeated prescriptions or hospitalizations, according to a press release.

During follow-up, 553 patients with IBD and 171,405 patients without hospital IBD were hospitalized for HF. The researchers calculated a crude incidence rate 3.68 per 1,000 person-years for the IBD group and 2.69 per 1,000 person-years for the reference group, according to the study abstract.

Compared with patients without IBD, those with IBD had a 37% greater risk for HF hospitalization (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.37; 95% CI, 1.26-1.49), according to the abstract.

Further analysis revealed that risk for HF hospitalization was markedly increased during IBD flares (IRR=2.54; 95% CI, 2.13-3.04) and persistent activity (IRR=2.73; 95% CI, 2.25-3.33). However, risk was not increased during remission (IRR=1.04; 95% CI, 0.94-1.16).

“Our findings suggest that efficient IBD treatment aimed at reducing the length and number of disease activity episodes might lower the risk of heart failure,” Soren L. Kristensen, MD, stated in the release. “We found an increased risk of hospitalizations for heart failure in IBD patients of all ages, not just older patients.”

For more information:

Kristensen SL. Abstract #607. Presented at: Heart Failure Congress 2014; May 17-20, 2014; Athens, Greece.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.