Inflammatory bowel disease in South-Eastern Norway III (IBSEN III): a new population-based inception cohort study from South-Eastern Norway

Abstract

Background and aim: Modern treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are postulated to change the natural disease course. Inception cohort studies are the gold standard for investigating such changes. We have initiated a new population-based inception cohort study; Inflammatory bowel disease in South Eastern Norway III (IBSEN III). In this article, we describe the study protocol and baseline characteristics of the cohort. Methods: IBSEN III is an ongoing, population-based observational inception cohort study with prospective follow-up. Adult and pediatric patients with suspected IBD in the South-Eastern Health Region of Norway (catchment area of 2.95 million inhabitants in 2017), during the 3-year period from 2017 to 2019, were eligible for inclusion. Comprehensive clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, demographic, and patient-reported data were collected at the time of diagnosis and throughout standardized follow-up. For a portion of the patients, extensive biological material was biobanked. Results: The study included 2168 patients, of whom 1779 were diagnosed with IBD (Crohn's disease: 626, ulcerative colitis: 1082, IBD unclassified: 71). In 124 patients, there were subtle findings indicative of, but not diagnostic for, IBD. The remaining 265 patients were classified as symptomatic non-IBD controls. Conclusion:We have included patients in a comprehensive population-based IBD cohort from a catchment population of 2.95 million, and a unique biobank with materials from newly diagnosed and treatment-naïve IBD patients and symptomatic non-IBD controls. We believe this cohort will add important knowledge about IBD in the years to come.

Fecal Fungal Microbiota (Mycobiome) Study as a Potential Tool for Precision Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“… 28 , 29 Additionally, prospective longitudinal cohorts including newly diagnosed patients naïve to therapy are currently underway for this purpose. 88 …”

“…28,29 Additionally, prospective longitudinal cohorts including newly diagnosed patients naïve to therapy are currently underway for this purpose. 88 Lastly, we need to obtain a better understanding of the interaction between gut fungi and bacteria better. Although the effects of antimicrobials such as antibiotics on fungal composition is well established, less is known about the effect of altering the mycobiome (with antifungals or specific diets/probiotics for example) on bacteria.…”

Symptoms and symptom clusters in patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease: results from the IBSEN III Study

“…Calprotectin analyses were performed at the same laboratory for all patients. Further details on study design and patient inclusion are described elsewhere [ 22 ]. The diagnosis of CD and UC was based on the Lennard-Jones criteria [ 23 ].…”

Health-related quality of life in patients with newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease: an observational prospective cohort study (IBSEN III)

“…The Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Southeastern Norway III (IBSEN III) is a population-based IBD inception cohort study that included newly diagnosed adult and pediatric patients from the South-Eastern Health Region of Norway (Clinical Trials ID: NCT02727959). Its overall design and study scope are described in detail elsewhere [ 7 ]. In the IBSEN III study, patients provided demographic information, social data, and blood and stool samples for disease marker analysis.…”