Anemia as Predictor of Outcome in IBD Pateints in Assuit University Hospitals

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with significant morbidity and impact on patients' quality of life. Despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, many patients continue to experience complications, frequent hospitalizations, and impaired long-term outcomes. Identifying prognostic factors that can predict disease course and response to therapy is therefore crucial in guiding clinical management and optimizing resource utilization.

Anemia is one of the most frequent extraintestinal manifestations of IBD, with prevalence estimates ranging from 20% to 70% depending on disease activity and population studied. The pathogenesis of anemia in IBD is multifactorial, including iron deficiency due to chronic intestinal blood loss, anemia of chronic disease driven by inflammation, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, and medication-related bone marrow suppression. Anemia has been consistently associated with increased disease activity, reduced health-related quality of life, higher rates of hospitalization, and poorer overall prognosis in IBD patients.

Given its potential as a simple and accessible biomarker, hemoglobin level and anemia status may serve as valuable predictors of disease outcome. However, local data from Egyptian populations, particularly from Assiut University Hospitals, remain scarce. Studying anemia as a prognostic factor in IBD patients may provide insight into disease severity, help stratify patients at higher risk, and support the development of tailored therapeutic and monitoring strategies. This research aims to fill this knowledge gap by evaluating the prognostic significance of anemia in IBD patients managed at Assiut University Hospitals.