Table 5.
Baseline characteristics of the 37 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases attempting to discontinue steroids in this study. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses investigating the predictors of steroids dependency.
| Univariate analysis | Multivariate analysis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N = 37 patients | HR [95% CI] | p-value | HR [95% CI] | p-value | |
| Age at diagnosis mean ± sd | 27.0 ± 14.9 years | 0.99 [0.96–1.02] | 0.48 | ||
| Age at baseline mean ± sd | 37.6 ± 19.0 years | 0.99 [0.97–1.01] | 0.29 | ||
| Female gender n [%] | 18 [48.6%] | 0.06 | 0.42 [0.19–0.93] | 0.033 | |
| Smoking habits | 0.12 | ||||
| Current smoker | 2 [5.4%] | Reference | |||
| Former smoker | 9 [24.3%] | 0.24 [0.04–1.32] | 0.10 | ||
| Non-smoker | 26 [70.3%] | 0.60 [0.14–2.64] | 0.50 | ||
| Disease duration | 10.0 ± 10.8 years | 0.37 | |||
| IBD subtype | 1.37 [0.60–3.10] | 0.45 | |||
| Crohn’s disease n [%] | 26 [70.3%] | ||||
| Ulcerative colitis n [%] | 11 [29.7%] | ||||
| Montreal classification | |||||
| Location | 0.35 | ||||
| L1 n [%] | 9/26 [34.6%] | Reference | |||
| L2 n [%] | 4/26 [15.4%] | 0.35 [0.07–1.66] | 0.19 | ||
| L3 n [%] | 13/26 [50.0%] | 0.63 [0.23–1.73] | 0.37 | ||
| L4 n [%] | 2/26 [7.7%] | 1.93 [0.43–8.65] | 0.39 | ||
| Behaviour | 0.57 | ||||
| B1 n [%] | 11/26 [42.3%] | Reference | |||
| B2 n [%] | 8/26 [30.8%] | 1.51 [0.55–4.13] | 0.42 | ||
| B3 n [%] | 7/26 [26.9%] | 1.64 [0.52–5.9] | 0.40 | ||
| Extent | 0.66 | ||||
| E1 n [%] | 2/11 [18.2%] | Reference | |||
| E2 n [%] | 3/11 [27.3%] | 1.35 [0.21–8.71] | 0.75 | ||
| E3 n [%] | 6/11 [54.5%] | 0.96 [0.17–5.41] | 0.96 | ||
| Perianal lesions n [%] | 7/26 [26.9%] | 1.22 [0.42–3.53] | 0.70 | ||
| Prior intestinal resection n [%] | 11/26 [42.3%] | 1.65 [0.70–3.94] | 0.22 | ||
| SCCAI = 0 or HBI ≤ 2 | 23 [62.2%] | 4.81 [1.74–13.32] | 0.001 | 1.72 [0.52–5.66] | 0.375 |
| Duration of clinical remission at baseline mean ± sd | 1.5 ± 3.6 months | 0.98 [0.96–1.02] | 0.13 | ||
| Duration of clinical remission at baseline >6 months n, % | 4 [10.8%] | 0.49 [0.16–1.48] | 0.17 | ||
| CRP > 5.0 g/L n [%] | 8 [21.6%] | 1.79 [0.77–4.11] | 0.16 | ||
| Faecal calprotectin > 100 µg/g n [%] | 15 [40.5%] | 7.52 [2.78–20.32] | <0.0001 | 7.43 [2.31–23.92] | 0.001 |
| durin | |||||
| Biologics | 28 [75.7%] | 0.84 | |||
| Anti-TNF agents | 15 [40.5%] | 1.39 [0.66–2.96] | 0.38 | ||
| Infliximab | 4 [10.8%] | 1.84 [0.63–5.39] | 0.25 | ||
| Adalimumab | 10 [27.0%] | 0.93 [0.39–2.20] | 0.87 | ||
| Golimumab | 1 [2.7%] | - | NA | ||
| Anti-integrins | 13 [35.1%] | 0.76 [0.34–1.69] | 0.50 | ||
| Vedolizumab | 12 [32.4%] | 0.64 [0.28–1.48] | 0.47 | ||
| Natalizumab | 1 [2.7%] | - | NA | ||
| Immunosuppressant therapies | 21 [56.8%] | 1.19 [0.56–2.56] | 0.64 | ||
| Azathioprine | 7 [18.9%] | 1.46 [0.58–3.67] | 0.41 | ||
| 6-mercaptopurin | 2 [5.4%] | - | 0.11 | ||
| Methotrexate | 12 [32.4%] | 1.38 [0.63–3.01] | 0.40 | ||
| Steroids | |||||
| Prednisone or prednisolone | 25 [67.6%] | 1.44 [0.63–3.30] | 0.38 | ||
| Prednisone or prednisolone posology [mg] | 31.0 ± 13.6 | 0.46 | |||
| Budesonide | 11 [29.7%] | 1.01 [0.46–2.25] | 0.97 | ||
| Budesonide MMX | 4 [10.8%] | 0.23 [0.03–1.72] | 0.12 | ||
| 5-ASA | 5 [13.5%] | 1.70 [0.63–4.60] | 0.28 |
NA: not applicable; sd: standard deviation; n: number; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; HBI: Harvey-Bradshaw index; SCCAI: simple clinical colitis activity index; HR: hazard ratio; CI: confidence interval; CRP: C-reactive protein. Statistically significant values are given in boldface.