Predictive Factors for Severe Outcomes in Ischemic Colitis
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Ischemic colitis includes a wide clinical spectrum ranging from mild to severe forms. This study aimed to determine the factors that are related to the occurrence of severe ischemic colitis.


METHODS
This multicenter study was conducted retrospectively in Korea. The patients were divided into mild and severe groups. This study surveyed clinical characteristics, blood tests, endoscopic findings, and imaging studies.


RESULTS
In the comparison of comorbidities, the severe group had a higher ratio of chronic kidney disease than the mild group (p=0.001). In the blood test, the severe group had a reduced number of platelets (p=0.018) and a higher C-reactive protein value (p=0.001). The severe group had a higher ratio of involvement of the right colon (p=0.026). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of the patients showed that the severe group had higher scores than the mild group (p=0.003). A multivariate analysis showed that chronic kidney disease and high ECOG performance status scores were significant risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
If patients diagnosed with ischemic colitis are also treated for chronic kidney disease or have poor performance status, more attention and early intervention are necessary.