Depression, IBD Combo Raises Risk of Hospital Readmission, Mortality: Daily Dose

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On January 25, 2024, we reported on findings from a study presented at the 2024 Crohn’s & Colitis Congress, January 25-27, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV.

The study

Researchers examined hospital readmission and mortality rates among patients with concurrent depression and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They drew on National Readmissions Database data from 2016 to 2019, using ICD-10 codes to identify individuals with Crohn disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and depression.

Investigators defined primary outcomes as mortality and 30- and 90-day readmission rates. Secondary outcomes comprised index admission mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges (TOTHC) at 30 and 90 days. The team also identified the top 10 readmission diagnoses in each subgroup.

The findings

Persons with comorbid depression and either UC or CD were found at significantly increased risk of hospital readmission and a “notably amplified” risk of mortality at 30 days post-readmission that increased substantially at 90 days.

When correlated with a diagnosis of UC or CD, the leading etiologies associated with readmission were sepsis, hypertensive heart disease and sequelae, complications of renal disease, hypoxia, and acute depressive episodes.

Authors' comment

"The complexity of the interaction between depression and IBD remains a fertile ground for further investigations in terms of pathological reciprocity and downstream consequences."

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