Disability in inflammatory bowel disease patients is associated with race, ethnicity and socio‐economic factors

Summary

Background

Race, ethnicity and socio‐economic status impact clinical outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. However, their impact on disability has not been studied.

Aim

To determine the association between race, ethnicity and socio‐economic factors with disability in IBD, using the validated IBD disability index (IBD‐DI).

Methods

Ambulatory IBD patients were enrolled at five academic centres participating in the New York Crohn's and Colitis Organization. We assessed the IBD‐DI, and collected clinical and socio‐economic data. Factors associated with moderate‐to‐severe disability (IBD‐DI score > 35) on univariable analysis were tested in multivariable models with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported.

Results

In this study, 323 patients (57.3% CD, 51.4% female) were enrolled; 17.7% were Hispanic, 17% were non‐Hispanic black, 56.0% were non‐Hispanic Caucasian and 9.3% belonged to non‐Hispanic non‐black minority races. However, 39.0% of patients were publicly insured and 38.4% of patients had low annual household income (<$50 000). 100 (31.0%) patients reported moderate‐to‐severe disability. On multivariable analysis, Hispanic ethnicity (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3‐5.6), non‐Hispanic non‐black minority race (aOR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3‐8.9), public payer (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1‐4.0) and low annual household income (aOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7‐5.4) were associated with moderate‐to‐severe disability controlling for disease characteristics.

Conclusions

IBD patients who are minorities, have public insurance, or low household income, are 2‐3 times more likely to report moderate‐to‐severe disability independent of disease characteristics in the United States. Future studies are needed to study their complex relationship and to mitigate disability.

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