Association between Clostridioides difficile colonization and inflammatory bowel disease activity in outpatients with remission

Table 2 Factors associated with inflammatory bowel disease activity, n (%)/median (interquartile ranges)

Variable	IBD activity at any time, n = 26	IBD remission at any time, n = 70
Female	19 (73.1)	39 (55.7)
Age in years	37 (29-57)a	52 (42-59)a
Residency
Mexico City	14 (53.8)	29 (41.4)
State of Mexico	5 (19.2)	12 (17.1)
State of Hidalgo	1 (3.9)	9 (12.9)
Other state	6 (23.1)	20 (28.6)
Education level
Illiterate	0 (0)	1 (1.5)
Basic1	8 (30.8)	22 (31.4)
Intermediate2	7 (26.9)	15 (21.4)
Higher3	11 (42.3)	32 (45.7)
Smoking index	0 (0-1)	0 (0-1)
Previous CDI	1/25 (4.0)	8/68 (11.8)
Previous hospitalization4	4 (15.4)	5 (7.1)
Previous healthcare utilization4	10 (38.5)a	13/70 (18.6)a
Previous antibiotic use4	12/24 (50.0)	22 (31.4)
Previous statin use4	0 (0)a	12 (17.1)a
Proton pump inhibitor use4	10 (38.5)	29 (41.4)
Previous bowel surgery	5 (18.5)	23 (32.9)
Age at diagnosis of IBD in years	30 (24-47)	38 (30-51)
Disease duration at inclusion in years	7 (4-13)	10 (5-17)
Type of IBD
Ulcerative colitis	21 (80.8)	53 (75.7)
Crohn’s disease	5 (19.2)	16 (22.9)
Indeterminate	0 (0)	1 (1.4)
Extent of ulcerative colitis
Proctitis	2/21 (9.5)	8/53 (15.1)
Left-sided colitis	7/21 (33.3)	12/53 (22.6)
Pancolitis	12/21 (57.2)	33/53 (62.3)
Days without IBD activity before follow-up	597 (87-1086)	1070 (285-1087)
Severity of last flare-up
Mild	6/18 (33.3)	17/39 (43.6)
Moderate	11/18 (61.1)	18/39 (46.2)
Severe (uncomplicated)	1/18 (5.6)	4/39 (10.2)
Treatment at baseline (not mutually exclusive)
Sulfasalazine and mesalamine	20/25 (80.0)	50/69 (72.5)
Steroids	13/25 (52.0)	19/69 (27.5)
Azathioprine	9/25 (36.0)	22/69 (31.9)
Infliximab	1/25 (4.0)	2/69 (2.9)
Methotrexate	1/25 (4.0)	1/69 (1.4)
Laboratory parameters at baseline
Hb in g/L	142 (127-152)	146 (129-153)
Platelet count as × 103/μL	309 (230-344)	271 (228.3-336.3)
Leukocyte count as × 103/μL	7.5 (6.1-8.6)	6.6 (4.8-8.2)
Lymphocyte count as × 103/μL	2.0 (1.2-2.6)	1.7 (1.3-2.6)
Serum creatinine in mg/L	7 (7-8)	8 (6-9)
Blood urea nitrogen in mg/L	143 (127-179)	149 (120-176)
C-reactive protein in mg/L	4 (1-7)	4 (2-10)
Fecal calprotectin in pg/g	268 (111.0-685.1)	294.5 (61.5-674.5)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in mm/hour	6 (3.5-11.2)	9 (4-16.3)
Total CDC episodes	4 (15.4)	19 (27.1)5
Total CDI episodes	1 (3.8)	3 (4.3)

^aP < 0.05.

¹Kindergarden, elementary school, and middle school.

²High school and technical studies.

³College and postgraduate studies.

⁴Within the last 3 months.

⁵1 participant had two different Clostridioides difficile colonization episodes during follow-up.

CDC: Clostridioides difficile colonization; CDI: Clostridioides difficile infection; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; Hb: Hemoglobin.