Published online Dec 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i36.11220
Peer-review started: June 7, 2021
First decision: June 25, 2021
Revised: July 5, 2021
Accepted: November 15, 2021
Article in press: November 15, 2021
Published online: December 26, 2021
Processing time: 199 Days and 2.3 Hours
In 2020, the global population was faced with the unprecedented crisis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Besides the infection and its consequences, COVID-19 also resulted in anxiety and stress resulting from severe restrictions on economic and social activities.
Fresh, acute stress exerts stronger influences than continuous stress on ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, presenting in forms such as exacerbation.
To determine whether this first wave had serious effects on UC patients included in a retrospective controlled study.
A total of 289 consecutive UC out-patients visited our clinic, who were included into the study, We assessed the modified UC disease activity index (UC-DAI) in each patient.
The exacerbation rate was significantly increased during the first wave of COVID-19, as compared with the previous year. Mean UC-DAI score was significantly higher in subjects during the first wave of COVID-19 than at the previous visit.
This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic caused exacerbations in UC patients, probably through psychological and physical stress.
Healthcare professionals involved in managing inflammatory bowel disease should pay attention to the psychological responses of patients to this pandemic and of possible ramifications for disease expression. Preventive treatment such as increased 5-ASA or local administration may be preferable in situations predicted to be stressful such as pandemics.