Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40275819›Full record

ArticleIntestinal research2026

Clinical characteristics of patients with difficult-to-treat ulcerative colitis: a nested case-control study using a Japanese claims database.

Katsuyoshi Matsuoka, Ataru Igarashi, Noriko Sato, Naomi Mizuno, Manabu Ishii, Masato Iizuka, Katsuhiko Iwasaki, Ayako Shoji, Tadakazu Hisamatsu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Intestinal research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Katsuyoshi MatsuokaDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Sakura, Japan.
Ataru IgarashiDepartment of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Noriko SatoMedical Affairs Department, Development and Medical Affairs Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Naomi MizunoMedical Affairs Department, Development and Medical Affairs Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Manabu IshiiData Science Department, Development and Medical Affairs Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Masato IizukaData Science Department, Development and Medical Affairs Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Katsuhiko IwasakiHealthcare Consulting, Inc., Tokyo, Japan.
Ayako ShojiHealthcare Consulting, Inc., Tokyo, Japan.
Tadakazu HisamatsuDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Funding

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

aimsDespite the advent of advanced therapies, cases of so-called "difficult-to-treat" (D2T) ulcerative colitis (UC) persist. This study aims to clarify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with D2T UC.

methodsWe conducted a nested case-control study using the Medical Data Vision Claims Database in patients with UC who began an advanced therapy (biologics, advanced small molecules, calcineurin inhibitors) from January 2018 through April 2023. D2T UC patients were defined as having 2 or more switches of advanced therapies, or as undergoing surgery for UC, within 2 years after the first advanced therapy.

resultsFour hundred and one (16.7%) and 1,996 patients (83.3%) met the definitions of patients with D2T UC and non-D2T UC, respectively. After 1:1 matching by index year, 355 patients per group were included in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, including sensitivity analyses based on follow-up period after the first advanced therapy, showed that a prescribed corticosteroid dose of ≥ 30 mg/day during the 6-month baseline period was associated with D2T UC. In D2T UC patients, median duration of the first advanced therapy was 99 days, and median number of advanced therapies per year was 1.7. The first advanced therapy was continued for 2 years in 78% of patients with non-D2T UC.

conclusionsThe proportion of D2T UC patients among UC patients starting advanced therapy was 16.7%. The factor most associated with D2T UC was the need for a corticosteroid dose ≥ 30 mg/day during the 6 months before initiation of advanced therapy.

Indexed as

Claims databaseDifficult-to-treatUlcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID40275819
PMCPMC12884122

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.