Published online Feb 6, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i4.764
Peer-review started: September 21, 2022
First decision: November 30, 2022
Revised: December 14, 2022
Accepted: January 12, 2023
Article in press: January 12, 2023
Published online: February 6, 2023
Processing time: 137 Days and 18.9 Hours
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are found to have a substantial societal burden, increased healthcare costs, and progressive disability. Studies suggest that patients with vs without depression have a more significant disability, a lower likelihood of remission, and reduced adherence to therapy.
The role of the Brain-Gut axis and Brain-Joint axis in the development of depression has been discussed, but there is not enough literature demonstrating the combined Brain-Gut-Joint axis.
Our primary aim is to identify a pooled prevalence level and temporal trends of depression in hospitalized IBD-RA patients. We aimed to investigate clinical factors associated with depression in these patients.
All adult hospitalized patients from January 2000 to December 2019 in the nationwide inpatient sample were captured. The study population included all patients with a primary or secondary IBD-RA overlap disease using corresponding international classification of diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes.
Other factors associated with higher major depressive disorder included younger age, female gender, white race, alcohol, opioids, esophageal disorders, peptic ulcer disease, chronic pancreatitis, paralysis, dementia, menopausal disorders, obesity, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes mellitus with chronic complications, and osteoarthritis.
There is an inevitable rise in the prevalence of depression in younger patients with IBD-RA combined autoimmune diseases. As physicians, we can play an important role in social determinants of health by giving good quality care. Timely recognition of depression in these patients is critical to preventing disability.
Our study discusses the clinical data on this combined axis and emphasizes potentially valuable strategies for managing these patients. This study will open the door for further research and educate the involved physicians to identify the early signs and symptoms of depression in patients with IBD or RA or IBD-RA combined and treat them or have them treated to have a better overall prognosis.