COVID-19: Risk of infection, outcomes and impact for IBD patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
RISK OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION AND ADVERSE OUTCOMES FROM COVID-19 FOR IBD PATIENTS RECEIVING IMMUNE-MODIFYING TREATMENTS
IRAS ID
295681
Contact name
Nick Kennedy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
IBD Registry
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an immune-response condition that affects about 1% of the UK population. Patients are often and typically treated with immune-modifying drugs including steroids, immunomodulators and biologic therapies. These drugs are associated with adverse effects including an increased risk of serious infection, most notably pneumonia. The impact of immune-modifying treatment on SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity is unknown but is a major concern for patients and clinicians. As a precaution, the UK Government advised prolonged shielding for many patients treated with these drugs.
The aim of the study is to find out if the drugs used to treat IBD increase the risk of becoming infected with the SARS-CoV-2 and whether they increase the risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19 in people who do become infected.
Respondents to our COVID-19 IBD Risk Tool (currently at 40,000) will be included in the research. This tool allowed people with IBD to self-assess their risk from COVID-19. These participants will be invited to complete additional surveys and this data will also be used in this research study. Participants will have a period of 4 weeks in which to complete the additional surveys.
Anyone who is over the age of 16, has been diagnosed with IBD and lives in the UK is eligible to use the COVID-19 Risk Tool and is therefore eligible for this study. It will be done entirely remotely through online questionnaires.
This study will provide an evidence base for safer prescribing of immune-modifying drugs in the COVID-19 era and inform public health policy regarding protection for clinically vulnerable people with immune disorders, and establishing safe working patterns in this COVID-19 time. We hope to ultimately reduce the anxiety faced by many people with IBD by providing an evidence based analysis of the matters that concern them.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
21/NI/0064
Date of REC Opinion
8 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion