AI can predict premature death among people with inflammatory bowel disease: study

A new study suggests AI can predict premature death among people who have inflammatory bowel disease, also known as Crohn's and colitis.

A new study suggests AI can predict premature death among people who have inflammatory bowel disease, also known as Crohn’s and colitis.

Researchers used machine learning to analyze data from more than 9,000 people in Ontario who had IBD and died between 2010 and 2020.

The study, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found half of those deaths were before age 75, which is considered a premature death.

People were most likely to have died prematurely if they had been diagnosed with certain other chronic conditions — including arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney failure, cancer and mental health issues — before age 61.

Senior author Dr. Eric Benchimol, a pediatric gastroenterologist, says people don’t usually die of inflammatory bowel disease itself.

He says the research findings show the need to watch for other chronic conditions in people with IBD and treat those as early as possible.

“I think what’s important here is that we need to be aware that it can’t be a gastroenterologist working in isolation anymore,” said Benchimol, who practices at Sick Kids Hospital and is also a senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), which provided the patient data for the study.

“We really need to be aware of all of these other things that are happening to the people with IBD, and try to get them a system of co-ordinated care.”