# Optimal Preoperative Care for Older Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (K76) - Resubmission - 1

> **NIH NIH K76** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $243,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Adults 60 years and older are the fastest growing subpopulation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease
(IBD), and are soon forecasted to represent >1 million individuals living in the U.S with IBD. The mainstay of
therapy for older adults with IBD is biologic therapy, but when these agents fail, surgery is required. Overall,
despite the growing armamentarium of biologic therapies, more than 20% of older adults with IBD will
ultimately require surgery. Further, surgical emergency and complication rates among older adults with IBD are
twice as high as compared to younger adults with IBD, with mortality rates reported as ten-fold higher. This, in
part, is due to an initial deferral of surgery, given the higher perceived risk of an adverse operative outcome
associated with increasing chronological age. Paradoxically, however, this delay can contribute to the
heightened surgical risk observed by increasing time on corticosteroids, and by leading to prolonged periods of
inflammation and malnutrition, which can precipitate physiologic and cognitive decline among older adults. In
order to shift the age-old practice of deferring surgical treatment due to chronological age alone, we aim to
address three critical knowledge gaps in the field: (1) Derive and validate a model predicting which older adults
with IBD will ultimately require disease-related surgery; (2) Derive a preoperative model predicting risk of a
major adverse postoperative event (we will include measures of sarcopenia, cognition, and malnutrition); and
(3) Identify patient and clinician barriers that contribute to surgical delays among older adults with IBD. In order
to complete this work, we have developed a mentorship team that has complementary expertise in aging-
related research, geriatric and surgical care, risk modeling, qualitative analyses, decision support, and career
development. This team, coupled with the rich environment in which this work will be completed, will help the
candidate meet his career goals: (1) Develop expertise in aging-related research and geriatric care; (2) Learn
advanced statistical modeling; (3) Obtain formal training in qualitative and mixed methods analysis; and (4)
Apply for and obtain R01 grant funding. In all, by identifying who is likely to need surgery, what preoperative
factors contribute to the risk of surgical complications, and which barriers exist for surgical care among older
adults with IBD, we can shift current practice and reduce delays when surgery is required. This can improve
outcomes for thousands of older adults with IBD, and help identify avenues for future intervention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10973135
- **Project number:** 1K76AG083286-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Adam Scotte Faye
- **Activity code:** K76 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $243,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-15 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10973135

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10973135, Optimal Preoperative Care for Older Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (K76) - Resubmission - 1 (1K76AG083286-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10973135. Licensed CC0.

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