Background and Aims The health consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] among patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn’s disease [CD] remain largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the outcomes and long-term effects of COVID-19 in patients with UC or CD. Methods We conducted a prospective, population-based study covering all Danish patients with CD or UC and confirmed COVID-19 between January 28, 2020 and April 1, 2021, through medical records and questionnaires. Results All 319 patients with UC and 197 patients with CD who developed COVID-19 in Denmark were included in this study and compared with the Danish background population with COVID-19 [N = 230 087]. A significantly higher risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization was observed among patients with UC (N = 46 [14.4%], relative risk [RR] = 2.49 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.91–3.26]) and CD (N = 24 [12.2%], RR = 2.11 [95% CI 1.45–3.07]) as compared with the background population (N = 13 306 [5.8%]). A similar pattern was observed for admission to intensive care (UC: N = 8 [2.51%], RR = 27.88 [95% CI 13.88–56.00]; CD: N = 3 [1.52%], RR = 16.92 [95% CI 5.46–52.46]). After a median of 5.1 months (interquartile range [IQR] 4.5–7.9), 58 [42.3%] and 39 [45.9%] patients with UC and CD, respectively, reported persisting symptoms which were independently associated with discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapies during COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50 [95% CI 1.07–10.22], p = 0.01) and severe COVID-19 (OR = 2.76 [95% CI 1.05–3.90], p = 0.04), but not with age or presence of comorbidities. Conclusion In this population-based study of 516 patients with IBD and COVID-19, 13.6% needed hospitalization and 2.1% required intensive care. Furthermore, sequelae were frequent, affecting 43.7% of COVID-19-infected patients. These findings might have implications for planning the healthcare of patients in the post-COVID-19 era.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raised concerns among patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) fearing an increased susceptibility to infection and increased risk of poor outcomes. Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on subsequent health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has so far not been described. We aimed to evaluate the HRQoL in relation to the severity of COVID-19 in a cohort of survivors. Methods We conducted a population-based study investigating the outcomes of COVID-19 among patients with UC and CD in Denmark. The Danish COVID-19 IBD Database is an extensive population-based database which prospectively monitors the disease course of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 among patients with UC and CD. Severe COVID-19 was defined as COVID-19 necessitating intensive care unit admission, ventilator use, or death, while adverse COVID-19 was defined as requirement of COVID-19 related hospitalization. HRQoL was assessed using several validated questionnaires, including the EuroQol five-dimension five-level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire, EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ), IBD Disability Index (IBD-DI), and IBD Fatigue Score. Results HRQoL after COVID-19 was assessed among 137/319 (42.9%) patients with UC of whom 125 (91.2%) and 12 (8.8%) patients experienced mild and adverse COVID-19, respectively. Furthermore, HRQoL was assessed among 85/197 (43.1%) patients with CD of whom 74 (87.1%) and 11 (12.9%) patients experienced mild and adverse COVID-19, respectively. HRQoL was assessed after a median of 5.1 months (IQR 4.5–7.9) after infection. Baseline characteristics are presented according to the availability of HRQoL data in Table 1. No difference was observed in terms of EQ-5D-5L among patients with UC and CD or patients with mild, adverse, or severe COVID-19 (Table 2). Accordingly, the SIBDQ scores were similar among patients with mild, adverse or severe COVID-19 and UC (mild: median 59 (IQR 50–65), adverse: 62 (54–65), severe: 62 (54–65), p=0.89) or CD (mild: 57 (46–65), 58 (49–64), 58 (49–64), p=0.91) as well, and no difference was observed in the subscores (Table 2). In line with these results, the IBD Disability Index (UC: median 10 (IQR 6–16), CD: 13 (6–20), p=0.16) were not associated with the severity of COVID-19 (Table 3). Finally, CD patients with adverse COVID-19 experienced more fatigue than patients with mild COVID-19 (26 (IQR 25–35) vs. 41 (IQR 29–46), p=0.03). Conclusion This Danish population-based study found no durable impact of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life among patients with inflammatory bowel disease providing further assurance for the clinical guidelines for IBD care during the pandemic.

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is increasingly being used to treat refractory and recurring Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Although FMT appears to be safe and highly effective in patients with a preserved colon and immunocompetence, its use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are on immunomodulating therapies is controversial. In particular, patients who have undergone colectomy may have different treatment responses to FMT. In this case report, we describe the successful use of FMT in a female patient aged 19 years with Crohn's disease who underwent ileorectal anastomosis following colectomy. She had recurrent CDIs that were refractory to metronidazole, pulse-tapered vancomycin and fidaxomicin treatments. She underwent 2 FMTs, which were performed via sigmoidoscopy; her mother served as a donor. Follow-up was conducted for 12 months and indicated sustained remission of CDI.

Lay Summary This brief report investigated the impact of clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic activity of IBD on the severity and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 in a prospective population-based cohort. The study did not identify any association between IBD activity and COVID-19 outcomes.