Longitudinal Safety Outcomes of Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Therapy in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
摘要
Short- and medium-term safety profiles of anti-TNF therapies are well-established, but data on their long-term safety, especially beyond five years, remain limited. This study aims to compare the risk of adverse events (AEs) in patients on stable anti-TNF therapy for less than five years versus more than five years.
MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted in an outpatient IBD clinic from April 2015 to November 2023. Patients were divided into short-term (less than five years) and long-term (more than five years) therapy groups. AEs were tracked across multiple systems, and time-adjusted risks were compared using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models.
ResultsWe identified 640 patients (785 instances) receiving stable anti-TNF therapy. A total of 82 AEs were reported over 1774 person-years. The AE incidence per 100 person-years was 5.12 in the short-term group and 3.50 in the long-term group with no significant adjusted risk between groups (aHR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.35 to 1.11). However, patients with CD on long-term infliximab therapy signaled a lower risk of AEs compared to short-term users (aHR, 0.33; 95% CI 0.11 to 1.00). Dermatologic events were the most common AEs.
ConclusionLong-term anti-TNF therapy appears to have a similar safety profile to short-term therapy, with no significant increase in overall AE risk. These findings may offer cautious reassurance regarding extended anti-TNF use, particularly in patients with CD on infliximab.