Case-control study of factors that trigger inflammatory bowel disease flares

Table 1 Patient characteristics

	Flares (n = 66)	Controls (n = 68)	P value
Age (yr, mean ± SD)	49.0 ± 14.3	53.1 ± 15.7	0.09
Age at diagnosis (yr, mean ± SD)	37.7 ± 13.6	39.3 ± 15.1	0.68
Disease duration (yr, mean ± SD)	12.1 ± 10.4	14.2 ± 11.4	0.15
Sex (male/female)	59/7	63/5	0.56
Race
White	49 (74.2)	54 (79.4)	0.54
Black	15 (22.7)	12 (17.6)	0.52
Hispanic	2 (3.0)	2 (2.9)	1.00
Medication use
5-ASAs	50 (75.8)	54 (79.4)	0.68
Immunomodulators	17 (25.8)	30 (44.1)	0.03
Biologics	12 (18.2)	15 (22.1)	0.67
Antibiotics	0 (0)	0 (0)	-
Steroids	3 (4.5)	0 (0)	0.12
CD	33	30
Colonic disease	11 (16.7)	8 (11.8)	0.47
Ileal disease	9 (13.6)	7 (10.3)	0.60
Ileocolonic	12 (18.2)	15 (21.1)	0.67
UC	33	37
Extensive	18 (27.3)	19 (27.9)	1.00
Left-sided	15 (22.7)	13 (19.1)	0.67
Proctitis	1 (1.5)	5 (7.4)	0.21
Indeterminate colitis	0	1	1.00

CD: Crohn’s disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis.

Table 2 Disease indices in patients with a disease exacerbation (flares) and those in remission (controls)

Disease indices	Flares	Controls	P value
Average CDAI score (CD)	349.8 ± 161.2	69.0 ± 52	< 0.0001
Average full Mayo score (UC)1	7.55 ± 2.9	1 ± 1.1	< 0.0001
Average partial Mayo score (UC)1	5.41p ± 1.8	0.1p ± 0.3	< 0.0001
C-reactive protein (mg/dL) (normal 0-1.0)	3.48 ± 5.5	1.19 ± 1.7	0.0002
ESR (MM/HR) (normal 0-30)	29.9 ± 25.6	16.6 ± 17.5	0.001
Albumin (g/dL) (normal 3.0-5.0)	3.40 ± 0.7	3.85 ± 0.4	< 0.0001
Hemoglobin (g/dL) (normal 11.5-15.3)	13.1 ± 2.1	14.3 ± 1.6	0.0005

¹One of two values for Mayo score per patient, patients had either full score (n = 19) or partial score (n = 51) depending on whether the patient had sigmoidoscopy. ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. CDAI: Crohn's Disease Activity Index; CD: Crohn’s disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis.