Relationship of Demographic and Clinical Variables with the Severity of Disease in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis Relapse in Qom Shahid Beheshti Hospital During 2017, (Iran)

Background and Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is identified by inflammation and damage to colonic mucosal cells and leads to ulceration and bleeding. This study aims to investigate the relation of demographic and clinical variables with the severity of the disease in patients with UC relapse.   Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 65 patients with UC relapse referred to Shahid Beheshti hospital during 2017-2018. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected using a checklist. Data were analyzed by statistical tests of ANOVA and Chi-square.   Results: In this study, among 65 participants, 35 were male and 30 were female. The mean age of the patient was 36±14 years, of whom, 40% had mild and 60% moderate and severe relapse of the disease. From all studied variables, young age (p=0.050), higher body temperature (p=0.019), higher pulse rate, lower level of hemoglobin, and higher levels of ESR and WBC (all with p<0.001), had a direct relationship with the severity of the disease.   Conclusion: Patients with younger age and more severe inflammatory state experience a more severe relapse periods. Therefore, future studies can focus on reducing the severity and frequency of the relapse episodes.