To evaluate severity among IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) patients presenting at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi, Pakistan.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the disease severity and associated factors among patients having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Gastroenterology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: February 2024 to July 2024. Methods: A total of 146 patients aged 18-65 years with a confirmed IBD diagnosis for ≥6 months were analyzed. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, and IBD type were recorded. Crohn’s disease (CD) severity was assessed using the Harvey-Bradshaw Index. Ulcerative colitis (UC) severity was evaluated with the Mayo Score. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v26.0, applying chi-square or Fisher’s exact test with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Among 146 study subjects, 66 (45.2%) were males, and 80 (54.8%) females, with a mean age of 39.64±14.79 years. The study revealed that 20 (13.7%) patients had CD, out of which 12 (60.0%) had moderate disease severity. Among IBD patients, 126 (86.3%) were having UC, out of which, 74 (58.7%) had moderate disease severity. Level of education (p=0.009), occupation (p=0.011), length of the disease (p=0.003), and marital status (p=0.012) had significant association with CD severity. Gender (p=0.757), age groups (p=0.340), and socio-economic status (p=0.189) were not having significant association with CD severity. Conclusion: Moderate disease severity is the most prevalent category among IBD patients attending a tertiary care center in Karachi, Pakistan. Disease severity in CD was significantly associated with education, occupation, disease duration, and marital status, while UC severity correlated with age, education, occupation, and socioeconomic status.