Second United Arab Emirates consensus guidance on the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The second edition of the United Arab Emirates inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consensus guidance provides updated recommendations for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring IBD. Significant therapeutic advances and evolving treatment paradigms since 2020 (including risk stratification and treat-to-target approaches) necessitated this comprehensive update to standardize care across the United Arab Emirates. Developed Delphi consensus methodology, this guidance incorporates a systematic literature review and key international guidelines. It presents 188 summary statements covering the full spectrum of IBD care, including complex scenarios like perianal disease and pregnancy. Key updates feature guidance on newer pharmacologic therapies - interleukin-23, Janus kinase, and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor inhibitors - with refined therapeutic positioning informed by recent head-to-head trials. The consensus emphasizes early, effective treatment to prevent irreversible bowel damage, optimization strategies like therapeutic drug monitoring, and achieving objective treat-to-target goals to improve long-term outcomes. Recognizing local healthcare system challenges, it offers practical recommendations on reducing variability and enhancing equitable access to IBD care. By integrating current clinical evidence with United Arab Emirates-specific considerations, the second edition United Arab Emirates IBD consensus guidance aims to standardize care across sectors, provide a benchmark for payers and policymakers, optimize treatment outcomes, and improve IBD outcomes, aligning national practice with international standards.