Researchers of a study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Scientific Meeting suggests that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may face an increased risk of contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) compared with the general population. The retrospective cohort revealed higher rates of RSV diagnoses in the IBD cohorts across all age groups, particularly among those undergoing immunomodulatory or anti-TNF therapies. The risk of serious infection was also elevated in patients with IBD with underlying comorbidities, with higher hospitalization rates and a mortality rate of 4.7% following RSV infection among the IBD group.
Despite the findings, researchers caution against immediate recommendations for RSV vaccinations for IBD patients but suggest that they consider vaccination due to the low risk of side effects associated with the vaccine. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of RSV infection in IBD patients and to determine the optimal approach to vaccination for this population.
Reference: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Risk in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. European Medical Journal. Published November 17, 2023. Accessed April 3, 2024. https://www.emjreviews.com/gastroenterology/news/respiratory-syncytial-virus-risk-in-patients-with-inflammatory-bowel-disease/
