Apolipoprotein E variants correlate with the clinical presentation of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: A cross-sectional study

Table 1 Demographic and clinical expression of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Variables median (IQR) or n (%)	n	Crohn’s disease	Ulcerative colitis	P value
Age in yr
At inclusion	397	15.18 (13.32-17.05)	15.11 (11.70-16.75)	0.044
At diagnosis	404	12.58 (10.02-14.32)	12.14 (7.89-14.94)	0.365
At worst flare	355	13.63 (11.54-15.85)	13.76 (10.13-15.84)	0.244
Duration of the disease (yr)	390	2.23 (0.82-4.25)	1.88 (0.36-3.77)	0.239
Female	173	86 (40.2)	87 (45.3)	0.297
Nutritional status
Weight at diagnosis in kg	387	38.0 (27.0-49.8)	40.0 (27.8-53.9)	0.490
Weight at diagnosis, z score	383	-0.82 [(-1.39)-(-0.04)]	-0.51 [(-1.12)-0.22]	0.003
Height at diagnosis in cm	382	151.0 (137.0-164.5)	152.0 (130.5-168.3)	0.718
Height at diagnosis, z score	378	-0.37 [(-1.29)-0.47]	0.06 [(-0.67)-0.81]	0.001
Body mass index at diagnosis in kg/m2	382	16.6 (14.5-18.4)	17.4 (15.5-19.3)	0.019
Body mass index at diagnosis, z score	378	-0.79 [(-1.47)-(-0.04)]	-0.49 [(-1.00)-0.16]	0.006
Albumin level at diagnosis in g/dL	345	3.90 (3.51-4.25)	4.10 (3.70-4.40)	< 0.003
Parameter of inflammation
CRP at diagnosis in mg/L1	386	12.94 (2.10-29.25)	2.24 (0.50-10.80)	< 0.001
CRP at worst flare in mg/L	347	13.95 (3.03-32.43)	2.70 (0.63-13.44)	< 0.001
Disease activity scales
PCDAI/PUCAI at diagnosis	190/166	32 (23-48)	45 (28-60)
PCDAI/PUCAI at worst flare	170/155	40 (30-53)	50 (35-65)
Treatment
Systemic steroids2	406	115 (53.7)	138 (71.9)	< 0.001
Immunosuppressive treatment3	405	168 (78.5)	112 (58.6)	< 0.001
Biological therapy4	406	107 (50.0)	49 (25.5)	< 0.001
Operative treatment5	406	29 (13.6)	4 (2.1)	< 0.001

¹C-reactive protein reference range 0-5 mg/L.

²Systemic steroid therapy included: methylprednisolone, prednisone, hydrocortisone.

³Immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents included: Azathioprine, methotrexate, mercaptopurine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, sulfasalazine.

⁴Biological agents included: infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, vedolizumab.

⁵Only surgery related to inflammatory bowel disease-specific problems (e.g., colectomy, resection, fistula, perforation, abscess) was included. CRP: C-reactive protein; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; IQR: Interquartile range; PCDAI: Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index; PUCAI: Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index.