A new study suggests that men with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may face a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease over time.
The research, published in the International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention, analyzed long-term health data and found that men with IBD were nearly twice as likely to experience serious heart conditions compared to those without IBD.
The study was conducted by researchers Noa Cohen-Heyman and Gabriel Chodick from Tel Aviv University in Israel. They examined 14,768 patients diagnosed with IBD between 1990 and 2021 and compared their health outcomes to a larger group of 120,338 individuals without IBD. Among the IBD group, 6,144 had ulcerative colitis, and 8,624 had Crohn’s disease.
Over an average follow-up period of 10.5 years, 1.9% of people with IBD experienced major heart problems, such as heart attacks, coronary artery blockages requiring stents (percutaneous coronary intervention), or heart bypass surgery.
In contrast, only 1.0% of those without IBD developed similar heart conditions. This suggests that having IBD nearly doubles the risk of heart disease (hazard ratio: 1.98).
Interestingly, the increased heart disease risk was only seen in men. The study found that male patients with IBD had an 82% higher risk of developing heart disease compared to men without IBD. However, for female IBD patients, the risk appeared to be lower than that of the general population (hazard ratio: 0.72).
The findings remained consistent even when researchers analyzed specific groups, such as patients with Crohn’s disease, patients with ulcerative colitis, and those taking steroids or immunosuppressants to manage their condition.
The authors suggest that men with IBD who are at high risk of heart disease may benefit from early screening for heart problems.
Certain biomarkers, such as high-sensitive cardiac troponin, could help identify individuals at risk before symptoms appear. The study also raises the possibility that preventive treatments, like daily aspirin, may help reduce heart disease risk in these patients.
Review and Analysis
This study highlights an important but often overlooked link between gut health and heart health. While IBD is primarily known for causing digestive issues, it is an inflammatory condition that can affect the entire body.
Chronic inflammation is a known risk factor for heart disease, and this study reinforces the idea that inflammation in the gut could contribute to problems in the heart and blood vessels.
One of the most surprising findings is the gender difference. While men with IBD had significantly higher heart disease risks, women with IBD seemed to have a lower risk than women without IBD.
This suggests that hormones or other biological factors might play a protective role for female patients. More research is needed to understand why men are at greater risk and whether female IBD patients genuinely have a lower risk or if the study missed certain underlying factors.
For men with IBD, this research suggests that heart health monitoring should be a priority. Doctors may need to screen for heart disease earlier in male IBD patients and consider preventive measures. Since the study does not prove that IBD directly causes heart disease, more research is needed to understand the exact connection.
Overall, this study adds to growing evidence that chronic diseases are often interconnected. Managing one condition, such as IBD, may not be enough—patients and doctors should also focus on preventing related complications, including heart disease.
This research is a reminder that inflammation affects the entire body, not just the digestive system, and early detection and prevention could make a big difference in long-term health outcomes.
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The research findings can be found in International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention.
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