Aging Clin Exp Res. 2021 Aug;33(8):2355-2359. doi: 10.1007/s40520-021-01917-9.Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Margalida Calafat ^1 2, Carlos González-Muñoza ³, Marta Fortuny ¹, Cristina Roig ³, Anna Calm ¹, Antonio Mombiela ³, Fiorella Cañete ^1 2, Federico Bertoletti ³, Laura González-González ¹, Marta Teller-Martín ³, Jordi Gordillo ³, Míriam Mañosa ^1 2, Esther Garcia-Planella ³, Eugeni Domènech ^4 5 6

Author information

• ¹Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain.
• ²Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain.
• ³Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
• ⁴Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain. eugenidomenech@gmail.com.
• ⁵Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain. eugenidomenech@gmail.com.
• ⁶Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Carretera del Canyet s/n, 08916, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain. eugenidomenech@gmail.com.

Abstract

Background: Older age has been reported as a risk factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19). The impact of immunosuppressants (IMS) on COVID-19 is still under debate.

Aim: To describe the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in relation to the use of IMS.

Methods: IBD patients over 65 years of age were selected and grouped in terms of IMS use. Confirmed COVID-19, adherence to IST, comorbidities and concomitant non-IBD-related treatments between 1st of March 2020 to 1st of March 2021 were recorded.

Results: Out of 418 patients included, 89 (21.3%) were on IMS. Thirty-two patients (7.7%) had COVID-19, 7 of whom were on IMS (7.6% not on IMS vs. 7.9% on IMS; P = 0.933) and 7 (22%) patients died.

Conclusions: Incidence of COVID-19 among elderly IBD patients was similar to that reported in the background population, regardless of the use of IMS.