Abstract Background International migration has become a major global phenomenon. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who migrate may face challenges in accessing timely and appropriate healthcare services in their new country of residence, potentially influencing disease outcomes. The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in disease characteristics and outcomes between migrating IBD patients and native residents. Methods A retrospective case–control study was conducted using data from the institutional IBD database. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between migrant and native patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Results A total of 240 patients were included (Migrants: n = 80 CD:54; UC:26; Natives: n = 160 CD:108; UC:52). There were no significant differences in gender between groups (Migrant male: CD 64.4%, UC 65.4% ;natives CD 51.9%, UC 46.2%)(p = 0.05). Mean age in CD was 39.9 ± 2.9 years for natives and 40.9 ± 3.5 years for migrants (p = 0.07) while mean age in UC was 36.8 ± 2.5 years for natives and 36.5 ± 3.0 years for migrants (p = 0.66). Table 1 denotes the origin of the migrant population. For CD, ileocolonic (L3) disease was the most frequent phenotype(Migrants 66% vs Natives 53.3%)(L1: 18.9% vs 20.5%; L2: 13.2% vs 26.2%; p = 0.12). Rates of immunosuppression (p = 0.18) and hospitalization (p = 0.085) were comparable. However, stricturing disease (40.7% vs 16.7%; p = 0.002), IBD related surgery (53.7% vs 19.4%; p = 0.0001) and extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) (20.4% vs 8.3%; p = 0.04) were significantly higher among migrants. In UC, extensive colitis (E3) was more predominant across both groups (Migrant 42.3% vs Native 59.6% ; p = 0.15). No differences were observed in IBD-related surgery (p = 0.2) or hospitalization (p = 0.17). Migrants had a significantly higher need for immunosuppressive therapy (p = 0.0011) and had higher rates of EIMs (p = 0.007). Conclusion While disease phenotype remains consistent across migrant and native populations, migrant CD patients experience a more complicated disease course, with increased rates of stricturing disease and surgical intervention. Migrant UC patients required more immunosuppressive treatment. These findings highlight the need for improved international continuity of care and harmonized timely clinical data exchange to optimize disease management in the growing population of migrants with IBD. Conflict of interest: Van Venetien, Frederique: No conflict of interest Filletti, Suzanne: No conflict of interest Privitera, Gianluca: No conflict of interest Caruana, Rebecca: No conflict of interest Sciberras, Martina: No conflict of interest Nardone, Olga Maria: Advisory board fees from Eli Lilly, Nestlè, Janssen Speaker fees from AbbVie, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Alfa Sigma, Recordati, Noòs, and Pfizer Ellul, Pierre: No conflict of interest
Venetien et al. (Thu,) studied this question.