Oral

Introduction:
The Asian Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PIBD) Research Network was set up in 2017 to gather PIBD-related data across five countries in Asia including Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Objective:
To present the one-year follow-up data from this registry.

Methods:
Information regarding children  < 19 years at IBD diagnosis during the period from January 1994 to December 2020 was entered into a REDCAPs database. Data captured included patient demographics, baseline and 1-year follow-up laboratory investigations, disease activity score (paediatric Crohn’s disease activity index [PCDAI] or paediatric ulcerative colitis activity index [PUCAI]) and treatment.

Results:
We analysed 363 patients (Malaysia [n=105], the Philippines [n=28], Singapore [n=156], Sri Lanka [n=27], Thailand [n=47]).  Mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 9.1 (4.6) years with mean (SD) time of symptom onset to IBD diagnosis of 9.3 (14.2) months.   Majority were males (57%). At 1-year follow-up (n=246), patients’ haemoglobin, serum albumin, ESR and C-reactive protein all improved (P < .05). For CD children, mean (SD) PCDAI  decreased from 32 (16) at diagnosis to 6 (8) at 1 year. For UC, mean (SD) PUCAI decreased from 34 (22) at diagnosis to 9 (16). At one-year, clinical remission was noted in 103/142 (73%) of CD and 56/91 (62%) of UC. Azathioprine was used in 61% and 54% of children with CD and UC respectively. Oral mesalazine/mesalamine was used in 74% of UC children. Twenty-nine percent (CD 26% and UC 36%) remained on oral corticosteroids at a 1-year and biologics were used in 11%. No patients died during the one-year period.

Conclusions:
Whilst the majority of children with IBD achieved both clinical and biochemical remission at 1-year following diagnosis, almost one-third remained on systemic corticosteroids. The use of biologics was relatively low in this cohort.  Further work to optimise care of  PIBD in Asia is needed.