Among those who undergo surgery for IBD, elderly patients are at increased risk for postoperative complications and mortality, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Here's what you need to know:
1. The researchers compared postoperative complications and mortality between elderly and nonelderly patients who had undergone major IBD-related abdominal surgery.
2. They found complications were more common among elderly patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, when compared with nonelderly patients. Elderly patients with ulcerative colitis were also at an increased risk for infectious complications.
3. Postoperative 30-day mortality was more common among elderly patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, when compared with nonelderly patients.
4. Since elderly patients with IBD have higher rates of postoperative complications and mortality, the researchers suggest that these risks should be considered when comparing the risks of surgical therapy and medical therapy in the elderly population.