Background: Active smoking has been associated with a higher risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD). However, its impact on clinical outcomes has been controversial among studies.
Aims: To evaluate the influence of active smoking on initial manifestations of CD, the development of disease-related complications, and therapeutic requirements.
Methods: Patients diagnosed with CD within a ten-year period (1994-2003) were identified. Clinical and therapeutic features until October 2008 or loss of follow-up were recorded. Smoking status was assessed at each major disease-related event (e.g. penetrating and stricturing complications, perianal disease, intestinal resection, introduction of immunomodulators or biological agents).
Results: A total of 259 patients were included in the study with a median follow-up period of 91 months. At diagnosis, 50.5% were active smokers and only 12% of them quit smoking during follow-up, mostly after a major disease-related event occurred. Smoking at diagnosis was not associated with a particular CD presentation. Active smoking did not influence the development of strictures, intraabdominal and perianal penetrating complications, or increased resectional surgery, biological therapy or immunomodulators requirements.
Conclusions: Patients who develop CD while smoking seem to have a similar disease course to those who never smoked.
Copyright © 2012 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.