Body Mass Index Profile of Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Multicenter Study in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Purpose

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disease of increasing prevalence in developing countries. Obesity has emerged as a potential risk for IBD; however, the data in the literature are conflicting, and relevant studies in Brazil are limited. Here, we report body mass index profile (BMI) of patients with IBD treated at reference centers in three states of northeastern Brazil.

Patients and Methods

Observational descriptive study conducted from January 2021 through December 2021 in patient with IBD.

Results

Of 470 patients with IBD, 194 (41%) were classified as normal weight, 42 (9%) as underweight, 155 (33%) as overweight, and 79 (17%) as obese; CD patients were significantly more likely to be underweight than UC patients (p=0.031)Overweight patients were older (median age: 47 years) than normal-weight and underweight patients at diagnosis (38.5 and 35.5 years, respectively [p<0.0001]). IBD onset and diagnosis among overweight and obese individuals were associated with older age. More extensive disease behavior patterns predominated in UC, while forms associated with complications were prevalent in CD, irrespective of nutritional status. There was a higher frequency of compatible symptoms with axial joint inflammation among obese patients (p=0.005) and a lower frequency of compatible symptoms with peripheral joint inflammation in underweight patients (p=0.044) than in patients of normal weight. No significant difference in the frequency of different drug or surgical treatments was observed among the groups.

Conclusion

Despite the predominance of overweight and obesity in patients with IBD, no differences in the patterns of disease were seen between the overweight and normal-weight groups; however, obesity was associated with IBD onset in older adults and a higher frequency compatible symptom with axial joint inflammation. These data reinforce the importance of monitoring the nutritional status of IBD patients and the need for a multidisciplinary approach, as recommended in the current guidelines.

Keywords:

• Crohn’s disease
• ulcerative colitis
• obesity
• overweight

Data Sharing Statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in the published article.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Written informed consent for publication was obtained from the patients before information was collected. The patients also provided written consent for the inclusion of personal and clinical details in this study. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Centre of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco (CAAE [certificate of presentation of ethical appreciation]: 31047320.7.0000.5208).

Consent for Publication

The patients provided written, informed consent for the inclusion of personal and clinical details in this study.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Autoimmune Institute for Research and Continuing Education for its support in the development of this project.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Brazil, under a specific grant (IISR-2020-102789). The sponsors did not participate in the design of the study, the analysis of the results, or the content of the publication.