UK Patients of Bangladeshi Descent with Crohn’s Disease Respond Less Well to TNF Antagonists Than Caucasian Patients

Background Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are currently managed with the assumption that trial data are applicable to all ethnic groups. Previous studies demonstrate differences in disease severity and phenotype of Asian patients with Crohn's disease (CD), including Bangladeshi Asians within the UK. No study has evaluated the impact of ethnicity on response to anti-TNFs. Aim Our primary endpoint was a comparison of failure-free survival on first prescribed anti-TNF (anti-tumor necrosis factor) therapy in UK Bangladeshi and Caucasian patients with CD. Our secondary aims were to evaluate disease phenotype, indication for anti-TNF prescription, and duration from diagnosis until first anti-TNF prescribed between groups. Methods The records of consecutive outpatient appointments over a 12-month period were used to identify Caucasian and…