Progress of ulcerative colitis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

Table 1 Characteristics of study participants from the 2020, 2021, and 2022 groups

	2020 (n = 289)	2021 (n = 279)	2022 (n = 268)
Age (yr)	45.0 ± 15.8	45.13 ± 15.60	45.28 ± 15.40
Sex (M/F)	147/141	140/139	136/135
Height (cm)	163.6 ± 8.6	163.6 ± 8.6	163.7 ± 8.7
Weight (kg)	60.1 ± 11.3	60.1 ± 11.3	60.3 ± 11.1
Disease duration (years)	11.6 ± 8.5	11.50 ± 8.61	11.44 ± 8.40
Smokers	69 (23.8%)	66 (23.6%)	65 (24.2%)
Disease extent
Total colitis	136 (47.0%)	113 (40.5%)	128 (47.7%)

Originally, 289 consecutive patients visiting the clinic were included into the study in March and April 2020, representing the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Ten patients dropped out from the original study group in 2021 and additional 11 patients dropped out in 2022. However, no significant differences were seen among the three groups for weight, height, disease duration, smoker rate, sex, disease extent or total colitis rate.

Table 2 Pharmacotherapies used for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 groups, n (%)

	2020 (n = 289)	2021 (n = 279)	2022 (n = 268)
5-ASA	165 (57.0)	158 (56.6)	151 (56.3)
AZA or 6-MP	35 (12.1)	32 (11.4)	33 (12.3)
IFX	36 (12.4)	35 (12.5)	33(12.3)
ADA	26 (8.9)	26 (9.3)	26 (9.7)
GLM	9 (3.1)	9 (3.2)	7 (2.6)
VDZ	0 (0)	1 (0.3)	1 (0.3)
UST	0 (0)	1 (0.3)	1 (0.3)
TFN	2 (0.6)	2 (0.7)	3 (1.1)
TF	8 (2.7)	8 (2.8)	7 (2.6)
IR	5 (1.7)	5 (1.7)	4 (1.0)
PSL	1 (0.3)	0 (0)	1 (0.3)
CHM	1 (0.3)	1 (0.3)	1 (0.3)
ND	1 (0.3)	1 (0.3)	0 (0)

5-ASA: Aminosalicylic acid; AZA: Azathioprine; 6-MP: Mercapton; IFX: Infliximab; ADA: Adalimumab; GLM: Golimumab; UST: Ustekinumab; TFN: Tofacitinib; VDZ: Vedolizmab; TF: Topical formulation; IR: Intestinal regulator; PSL: Prednisolone; CHM: Chinese herbal medicine; ND: No drug.