Lower incidence of COVID‐19 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with non‐gut selective biologic therapy

Background and Aim Since the outbreak of COVID‐19, concerns have been raised as to whether inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients under biologic therapy may be more susceptible to the disease. This study aimed to determine the incidence and outcomes of COVID‐19 in a large cohort of IBD patients on biologic therapy. Methods This observational retrospective multicenter study collected data about COVID‐19 in IBD patients on biologic therapy in Italy, between February and May 2020. The main end‐points were (i) to assess both the cumulative incidence and clinical outcome of COVID‐19, according to different biologic agents and (ii) to compare them with the general population and a cohort IBD patients undergoing non‐biologic therapies. Results Among 1816 IBD patients, the cumulative incidence of COVID‐19 was 3.9 per 1000 (7/1816) with a 57% hospitalization rate and a 29% case‐fatality rate. The class of biologic agents was the only risk factor of developing COVID‐19 (P = 0.01). Non‐gut selective agents were associated with a lower incidence of COVID‐19 cases, related symptoms, and hospitalization (P