key: cord-0917004-2akxfwpe
authors: Attauabi, Mohamed; Seidelin, Jakob Benedict; Burisch, Johan
title: Authors’ Reply to: “COVID-19 in the IBD Population: The Need for Correct Nomenclature.”
date: 2020-11-20
journal: J Crohns Colitis
DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa240
sha: 55eb1bd9a481b9f79838630d9e06deca996cde4d
doc_id: 917004
cord_uid: 2akxfwpe

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M a n u s c r i p t We agree that nomenclature standardization is crucial in epidemiological research. In our cohort of 76 SARS-CoV-2 positive IBD patients, most patients (n=69, 90.8%) were only tested if they had relevant symptoms of COVID-19 as they were tested before May 18 th , 2020, which was the starting date of free testing in Denmark. Furthermore, all the remaining seven patients diagnosed after May 18 th had relevant symptoms of COVID-19 as verified in their patient files, and two patients required hospitalization due to severe COVID-19.

The question of whether to monitor IBD patients with SARS-CoV-2 with and without the development of severe respiratory symptoms equally close is indeed unclear and should be considered with caution. Accordingly, the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention embraces all cases of SARS-CoV-2 positivity as cases with COVID-19 and asymptomatic patients might in fact be presymptomatic. 2 Unfortunately, very limited research exists regarding an association between infection with the SARS-CoV-2 and potential development of long-term COVID-19 related sequelae, and no data exist regarding patients with IBD. However, studies warn about the overlooked pre-and asymptomatic cases with COVID-19 who are still contagious and therefore considered a serious public health issue. 3 Furthermore, among SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects who remained asymptomatic, 54% were A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t Manuscript Doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa240 reported to have subclinical pulmonary changes on CT scans. 4 These results are indeed worrying in light of the fact that several studies have demonstrated an association between other severe acute respiratory syndrome viruses and long-term impairment of pulmonary function. 5 The broader point illustrated here is first of all our adherence to strict nomenclature of COVID-19, but also, in our opinion, the importance of carefully monitoring patients with IBD who test positive in order to manage the development of sequelae due to COVID-19.

COVID-19 in the IBD population: The need for correct nomenclature

National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS): Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE): Statement

Patterns of viral clearance in the natural course of asymptomatic COVID-19: Comparison with symptomatic non-severe COVID-19

Prevalence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection : A Narrative Review

The long-term impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on pulmonary function, exercise capacity and health status. Respirology. Epub ahead of print

A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t Manuscript Doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa240