A Comprehensive Global Population-Based Analysis on the Coexistence of Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: We explored inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) coexistence using a global dataset. Investigating their epidemiology, risks, and impact, we aimed to enhance the understanding of concurrent diagnoses and patient outcomes.

METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using deidentified patient data from the TriNetX database (2011-2022). We estimated the incidence and prevalence of EoE in patients with IBD, including both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and vice versa. Risks of select immune-mediated conditions and disease complications were compared among patients with EoE, IBD, or concurrent diagnoses.

RESULTS: Our results included 174,755 patients with CD; 150,774 patients with UC; and 44,714 patients with EoE. The risk of EoE was significantly higher among patients with CD (prevalence ratio [PR] 11.2) or UC (PR 8.7) compared with individuals without IBD. The risk of IBD was higher in patients with EoE (CD: PR 11.6; UC: PR 9.1) versus those without EoE. A propensity-matched analysis of IBD patients revealed that, when comparing patients with and without EoE, the relative risk of immune-mediated comorbidities was significantly greater for celiac disease, IBD-related inflammatory conditions, eczema and asthma (CD: n = 1896; UC: n = 1231; p < 0.001). Patients with a concurrent diagnosis of EoE and IBD had a higher composite risk of IBD-related complications (CD: adjusted HR (aHR) 1.14, p < 0.005; UC: aHR 1.17, p < 0.01) and lower risk of food bolus impaction (aHR 0.445, p = 0.0011).

CONCLUSION: Simultaneous EoE and IBD increased IBD-related complications risk, needing more treatment (glucocorticoids, biologic therapy, abdominal surgery), while reducing EoE-related issues like food bolus impaction.