Jones, Eric A.

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a reduced quality of life. Minority patients with IBD specifically report more impairing symptoms compared with nonminority patients. Sleep quality, a key component of quality of life, is significantly compromised in minority patients compared with nonminority patients. Nevertheless, subjective and objective sleep assessments in minority patients with IBD have not explicitly been assessed. The purpose of this prospective cohort study is to assess and compare objective sleep parameters utilizing wrist actigraphy between minority and nonminority IBD patients. Methods In this institutional review board approved study, 74 patients with IBD were recruited and stratified into 2 cohorts by self-identification: white nonminority patients and minority patients. Patients in the minority cohort included black and Hispanic individuals (black and nonblack). Exclusion criteria included significant comorbidity, a history of an underlying sleep disorder, or patients who did not self-identify into categorized cohorts. Sleep was measured not only through wrist-based actigraphy but also with sleep surveys. Sleep parameters were compared between minority and nonminority cohorts. Regression analyses were performed to assess for factors independently associated with parameters of poor sleep quality. Results Sixty-four patients (86.4%) were included in the final analysis. Thirty-one individuals (48.4%) were categorized into the nonminority cohort, and 33 (51.6%) patients were in the minority cohort. A significantly higher number of minority patients had poorer sleep efficiency and fragmented sleep compared with nonminority patients (90.9% vs 67.7%; P = 0.03 and 87.8% vs 61.3%; P = 0.02). In the adjusted analysis, minority status was independently associated with poor sleep efficiency (odds ratio = 6.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.48-28.17; P = 0.0139) and fragmented sleep (odds ratio = 4.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-22.89; P = 0.0389). Conclusions Minority patients with IBD were shown to have poorer objective measures of sleep as assessed through wrist actigraphy compared to nonminority patients. Cultural competency in the care of minority patients with IBD, specifically focusing on the management of psychosocial issues, is needed to address these disparities in sleep. The inclusion of minority patients with IBD in studies investigating sleep and other psychosocial issues are warranted not only to assess potential disparities in disease course but also to determine the etiologies of poor sleep in minority patients with IBD.

Abstract Introduction Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a significant effect on patients’ overall quality of life (QoL). We hypothesized that an Electronic Health Record (EHR) patient portal (EPIC’s Mychart) can be utilized to improve QoL in IBD patients and increase vaccine uptake. Methods Patients were randomized to receive specific disease (INT) information and to a control arm (CTRL) that received periodic non-IBD related messages. Disease severity was assessed using the Harvey-Bradshaw index, and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity index. QoL was measured using the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). Secondary outcome measures included overall satisfaction with the portal and influenza and pneumococcal vaccine uptake. Results One hundred twenty-seven patients were randomized: At baseline the CTRL group had a statistically significant higher QoL (Median SIBDQ 53.7) compared with the INT group (median SIBDQ 49.3), P = 0.04. At 6 months, the INT group had a trend towards a significantly greater increase in QoL (median SIBDQ 58) when compared with the CTRL group (median SIBDQ 57.5), P = 0.06. At 6 months more frequent portal use showed a significantly lower median SIBDQ (median 53) compared with patients with less frequent portal use (median 59), P = 0.038. At 6 months 88% of patients felt that the MyChart portal was useful with respect to IBD management. Patients had high rates of portal utilization with one-third of patients logging on weekly, and one-third logging on monthly. With respect to vaccine uptake, both influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia had higher rates of vaccine uptake. Conclusions Patients showed a trend towards improved QoL after receiving disease-specific information through our EHR portal. A significant increase in vaccine uptake was also seen. Frequent automated messages sent via an EHR portal can improve patient’s overall QoL. Larger studies will be needed to determine if automated portal reminders have a significant association with improved QoL, and furthermore to determine if there is any impact on disease activity.

Abstract Background Distinguishing Clostridioides difficile infection from colonization is challenging in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Cycle threshold (Ct), the cutoff for PCR positivity, has been investigated in non-IBD patients. Methods Patients with positive C. difficile PCR (25 IBD, 51 non-IBD) were identified retrospectively. Fifteen-day outcomes were assessed. Results Ct correlated with diarrheal days in non-IBD (P = 0.048), but not IBD patients (P = 0.769). IBD patients had shorter LOS and less severe infection, but more diarrheal days (P < 0.05). Conclusions IBD patients had a milder course but Ct results were not significant. Larger studies are needed to clarify utility of Ct in IBD.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is associated with a reduced quality of life, including a high incidence of poor sleep. Minority patients with IBD describe poorer subjective symptoms of disease. Minority patients are more likely to report poorer sleep quality compared to Caucasian patients. There are limited data on the assessment of sleep in minority patients with IBD. In this prospective cohort study, we aim to compare objective sleep parameters assessed by wrist actigraphy in minority IBD patients compared to Caucasian IBD patients. METHODS: 73 patients with a diagnosis of IBD were recruited to take part in this IRB approved study. Subjects were stratified into two cohorts by self-identification: minority subjects (Blacks and Non-Black Hispanic subjects) and Caucasian, non-minority individuals. Subjects were excluded based on significant co-morbidity, a history of a sleep disorder, or demographics which did not fit into categorized cohorts. Subjects completed sleep surveys and were provided with an accelerometer that estimated sleep patterns. Comparisons of actigraphic parameters were performed between minority and non-minority cohorts. Regression analyses were performed to determine whether minority status was independently associated with poorer sleep parameters assessed by actigraphy. Predictors that were found to be different by < 0.1 between cohorts were included in the models. RESULTS: Of the recruited subjects, 64 subjects completed 3 days of actigraphy data. 33 subjects were minority patients and 31 individuals were non-minority patients. The demographics of the cohorts are provided in Table 1. Table 2 details the univariate analyses. A higher proportion of minority patients had poorer sleep efficiency (SE) and fragmented sleep compared to Caucasian patients (90.9% vs. 67.7%, P = 0.03 and 87.8% vs. 61.3%, P = 0.02). Minority status was independently associated with both poor SE (OR: 6.41 CI: 1.48-28.17, P = 0.0139) and fragmented sleep (OR: 4.98, CI: 1.09-22.89, P = 0.0389), (Tables 3.0A and 3.0B). CONCLUSION: In our study minority subjects were found to have poorer objective measures of sleep assessed by actigraphy compared to non-minority subjects. Culturally relevant care addressing psychosocial issues, including sleep are important in the care of minority patients with IBD. Further studies investigating the role of sleep in diverse populations with IBD are warranted to determine the etiologies of poor sleep in these patients.