Inflammatory Bowel Disease Linked to Increased Stroke Risk, claims study
A new study published in BMC Gastroenterology identified that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), have a much increased risk of stroke than the general population. The study was conducted by Chao L. and fellow researchers in China. IBD is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that mostly occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, although new evidence also indicates that systemic inflammation could contribute to cardiovascular complications.
Systematic broad systematic literature search was done via databases like PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, and CINAHL until the date of publications up to September 2023. Hazard ratios for 95% CIs were estimated in the hope to define stroke risk among IBD patients versus the normal population. The risk was divided into subgroup analysis for CD, UC, and overall IBD cases. Publication bias was assessed with Begg's and Egger's tests, and sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the stability of findings.
Results
• 13 studies involving 2,802,955 participants were included in the analysis. Major findings of the study are as follows:
• IBD patients had 30% increased risk of stroke, with a pooled HR of 1.30 (95% CI 1.21–1.39).
• Subgroup analysis revealed that Crohn's disease patients had a 35% higher stroke risk (HR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.22–1.49).
• Patients with ulcerative colitis were at a 15% higher stroke risk (HR: 1.15, 95% CI 1.09–1.22).
• Large heterogeneity was found between studies, but no significant publication bias.
• Sensitivity analyses established the stability and consistency of the findings.
This research offers strong evidence that IBD patients, especially those with Crohn's disease, have a higher risk of stroke. The results reinforce the importance of aggressive cardiovascular risk management among IBD patients to avoid stroke and enhance long-term health. Further studies need to investigate the exact mechanisms that associate IBD with cerebrovascular events and investigate targeted interventions for reducing these risks.
Reference:
