Study Design and Population

An observational, anonymous survey study was conducted using a questionnaire to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to medications and treatment, including difficulties in obtaining consultations at gastroenterology (outpatient) clinics in patients with the 2 forms of IBD: CD and UC. Additionally, the study was designed to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the course of IBD and the influence of the pandemic on the mental well-being of patients. The study group consisted of patients with IBD who were admitted to the Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Department and Outpatient Clinic and patients from all over Poland who voluntarily responded to a questionnaire posted via social media from February to June 2021. Clinical symptoms, biochemical testing, such as blood counts, C-reactive protein, and liver enzymes, imaging, endoscopic, histopathological (analysis of endoscopy-derived sections), and stool (fecal calprotectin) examinations were all used to identify IBD in patients [14]. The CDAI scale and Mayo scale were used to assess disease activity in CD and UC, respectively.