Elevated Postoperative Mortality Risk in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Strategic Insights -

A new study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology has found that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing colorectal cancer surgery are at an elevated risk of postoperative mortality, particularly due to venous thromboembolism (VTE). The research, conducted by a team of researchers at Aarhus University Hospital, used Danish health registries to analyze data from 83,950 patients undergoing their first colorectal cancer surgery between 1996 and 2021. The study revealed that patients with a prior IBD diagnosis had a 30-day VTE risk of 1.5% compared to 0.7% in those without IBD.

Key Takeaways:

  • Patients with IBD undergoing colorectal cancer surgery are at an elevated risk of postoperative mortality, with a 30-day VTE risk of 1.5% compared to 0.7% in those without IBD.
  • The strongest associations between IBD and postoperative mortality risk were observed in male patients, patients aged 60-69 years, those who had received IBD treatment before surgery, and patients with active disease.
  • Patients with IBD, particularly those with ulcerative colitis, are at a higher risk of VTE after CRC surgery.
  • The risk of VTE remains elevated during 91-365 days after surgery, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and optimization of disease control in high-risk IBD patients.
  • The study's findings highlight the importance of considering IBD when evaluating the risk of postoperative mortality in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Statistics:

  • 83,950 patients undergoing first-time CRC surgery were included in the study.
  • The 30-day VTE risk was 1.5% in patients with IBD and 0.7% in those without IBD (aHR 1.61; 95% CI 0.86-3.01).
  • The strongest associations were observed among male patients (aHR 2.26; 95% CI 1.06-4.82), patients aged 60-69 years (aHR 4.63; 95% CI 1.88-11.39), those who had received IBD treatment before surgery (aHR 1.95; 95% CI 0.97-3.95), and patients with active disease (aHR 5.29; 95% CI 1.69-16.56).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Data on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Reported by Researchers at Aarhus University Hospital (Risk of Venous Thromboembolism After Colorectal Cancer Surgery in Patients With and Without Inflammatory Bowel Disease). Cancer Weekly. October 21, 2025; p 338.
  • Risk of Venous Thromboembolism After Colorectal Cancer Surgery in Patients With and Without Inflammatory Bowel Disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2025.
  • American Journal of Gastroenterology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.