title: Risk factors of recurrent ischemic colitis: a multicenter retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recurrence of ischemic colitis (IC) has not been studied extensively. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of recurrent IC in the community setting and to identify any risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study in two community hospitals. Medical records of patients with IC from January 2007 to January 2013 were reviewed. Demographic details, clinical features, co- morbidities, concomitant use of medications,laboratory studies, imaging findings, endoscopic and histological features, surgery, hospital stay, and death within 30 days were collected. Patients were divided into two groups (recurrent IC group, non-recurrent IC group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 118 patients with IC were identified. IC recurred in 10 patients (8.5%) during the study period. Half of the patients in the recurrent IC group were current smokers as compared to only 18.7% of patients in the non-recurrent group. In the recurrent IC group, 20.0% of patients never smoked as compared to 61.7% in the non-recurrent group (p=0.027).Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was more frequent in the recurrent IC group (40.0% vs. 4.7%; p=0.003). No differences in other clinical symptoms, CT scan findings, comorbidities, endoscopic features, or use of concomitant medications were observed between the two groups. The need for surgical intervention, blood transfusion, intensive care unit stay, mechanical ventilation,length of hospital stay, and anatomic location of affected segments did not differ between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IC recurred in 8.5% of patients during the six-year study period. Current smoking status and presence of AAA were identifying risk factors for recurrence of IC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, BB R2538, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherid
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sifuentes
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samo
authors.forename: Samian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.forename: Husein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Husein
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tupper
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spurr
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vainder
authors.forename: Subbaramiah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sridhar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017091:Colitis, Ischemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed