The Burden of Vaccine-preventable Diseases in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of infections, including vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The aim of this study was to explore the inpatient prevalence of VPD in patients with IBD, as well as inpatient outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective study using the 2013-2017 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases. All patients 18 years of age or older with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and 10th Revisions , Clinical Modification (ICD-9/10 CM) codes for IBD were included, as well as patients with VPDs as a principal diagnostic code. The primary outcome was the occurrence and odds of VPD in patients with IBD compared with patients with no IBD. Secondary outcomes were inpatient mortality, morbidity, and economic burden compared with patients with IBD and non-vaccine-preventable infections (VPIs). Multivariate regression yielded adjusted odds ratios.

Results: Of 1,622,245 (0.9%) patients with a diagnosis of IBD, 3560 (0.2%) had associated VPDs, while 131,150 patients had non-VPI (8.1%). The most common VPDs were influenza, herpes zoster (HZ), pneumococcal pneumonia, and varicella. Only HZ and varicella had increased odds of occurrence in patients with IBD of all ages. Patients with IBD 65 years of age or older had increased odds of VPD compared with patients under 65 years. Patients with IBD and associated VPD had higher odds of intensive care unit stay, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and multiorgan failure compared with patients with IBD and non-VPI.

Conclusions: VPDs represent a clinically relevant cause of infectious disease-related hospital admissions in patients with IBD. Patients with IBD are at increased risk for hospitalization due to HZ and varicella. Those hospitalized for VPD have higher morbidity compared with patients with IBD and non-VPI. These findings echo the importance of instituting optimal immunization schedules in patients with IBD, particularly in patients 65 years or older.