Demographic characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease patients in Saudi Arabia and their relation to gastrointestinal cancers: An observational, prospective cohort study.

Abstract

e15691 Background: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and fistulizing CD (FCD), are chronic conditions that can increase the risk of gastrointestinal (GIT) cancers. IBD, particularly when diagnosed early, is associated with an increased risk of developing GIT cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Long-standing inflammation in IBD patients can lead to genetic mutations and alterations, such as changes in the p53 tumor suppressor protein, which are early events in the progression to cancer. This study aims to evaluate the demographic characteristics of IBD patients in Saudi Arabia treated with Infliximab biosimilar. Methods: This observational, prospective cohort study was conducted across four medical centers in Saudi Arabia. The study included 154 patients, with 62 naïve and 92 switched from infliximab. Patients were followed for 48 weeks, with demographic data collected at baseline. Results: The study population had a mean age of 29.6 years (SD 10.1), with 57.7% males and 42.3% females. The majority of patients (87.8%) were Saudi nationals. Among the patients, 37.6% had moderate to severe active CD, 36.3% had fistulizing CD, and 26.1% had moderate to severe active UC. Naïve patients constituted 39.5% of the cohort, while 60.5% were switched from infliximab. The study sites included King Abdul Aziz University Hospital (28.2%), King Saud Medical City (21.2%), National Guard Hospital in Riyadh (31.4%), and National Guard Hospital in Jeddah (19.2%). Conclusions: The demographic profile of IBD patients in Saudi Arabia is consistent with regional data, showing a relatively young population with a higher prevalence of CD. The association between early IBD and the development of GIT cancers underscores the importance of early diagnosis, regular screening, and monitoring to manage and mitigate cancer risk in IBD patients. Patients’ disposition per site. Naïve patients Switched Patients Naïve patients Switched Patients Naïve patients Switched Patients KAUH 7(35.0) 14(35.9) 2(8.0) 5(16.1) 6(35.3) 10(41.7) 44 NGHA-Jeddah 5(25.0) 12(30.8) - 3(9.7) 3(17.6) 7(29.2) 30 NGH-Riyadh 4(20.0) 13(33.3) 3(12.0) 22(71.0) - 7(29.2) 49 KSMC 4(20.0) - 20(80.0) 1(3.2) 8(47.1) - 33 Total patients/ disease/ dynamic group 33.9% 66.1% 44.6% 55.4% 41.5% 58.5% - Total patients/ disease 12.8% 25.0% 16.0% 19.9% 10.9% 15.4% - Total Patients 20 39 25 31 17 24 156