Clinical Characteristics, Progression, and Outcomes of Patients with Crohn’s Disease Treated at a Referral Hospital in Colombia: Longitudinal Case Series Analysis

Abstract

Objective: To describe the two-year clinical outcomes of a Crohn’s disease (CD) care program at a referral hospital in Colombia. Materials and methods: This longitudinal study was based on a case series of patients managed by a specialized CD program in Colombia between 2013 and 2023. Clinical characteristics, disease activity at program enrollment (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [CDAI]), treatment adjustments, and CDAI changes during subsequent follow-ups (6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months) were reported. Results: A total of 22 patients were included, with a median age of 44 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 32–64); 10 (45%) were men. At enrollment, 14 patients (63.4%) were in remission, while 8 (36.6%) had mild to moderate disease activity. The median CDAI at enrollment was 124 (IQR: 52.7–211.2), with a significant reduction observed at 12 months (CDAI: 50, IQR: 10–115) and 24 months (CDAI: 24, IQR: 10–117) (p < 0.05). At the end of the follow-up period, 12 patients (80%) were in remission, 3 (20%) had mild to moderate disease activity, 7 (31.8%) were lost to follow-up at two years, and 14 (93.3%) were on biologic therapy. Conclusion: This study highlights the clinical characteristics, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes of a specialized CD care program. The findings suggest that the program effectively reduces CD activity, potentially due to the use of biologic therapy. Future studies are needed to confirm the potential benefits of specialized care programs.