Abstract
Background
Delayed diagnosis is common in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and has been reported to be longer for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) than for those with ulcerative colitis (UC). Aims of study were to assess the median time to diagnosis in IBD patients, to examine whether diagnostic delay (DD) has improved over the years and its impact on biological treatment and need for surgery.
Methods
A retrospective monocentric study including IBD patients living in the area of Verona (Italy), diagnosed up to 2019 and followed-up for at least 6 months at IRCCS Sacro Cuore—Don Calabria, Negrar, was carried out. DD was defined as the period (months) from symptoms onset to histological diagnosis of IBD and reported as <6 months, 6–12 months and >12 months.
Results
Six-hundred-six patients (255 CD; 351 UC; 308 males; 298 females) were enrolled. Median DD was 10 (IQR 2–12), 6 (IQR 1–12) and 2 (IQR 1–7) months <2000, between 2001–2010, and >2010, respectively. Median time to diagnosis was not significantly longer in CD than in UC patients (4 vs. 3 months; IQR 1- 12). No sex- or age-related differences in DD were observed. Using the Mann–Whitney test, DD was longer in patients diagnosed <2000 and between 2001–2010, than in those diagnosed >2010 (p = 0.0000 and p = 0.0004). Comparing DD <2000 and >2010, the statistical difference was reported for UC (p = 0.0000) but not for CD (p = 0.2756). Considering the use of biologics over the years, patients diagnosed between 2000–2010, and >2010 were compared (194 CD and 333 UC), reporting a significant increase in their use both for CD (30 vs. 60; p = 0.0008) and UC (28 vs. 43; p = 0.0000). DD did not influence the need for biological treatment in both diseases (p = 0.987 for CD; p = 0.433 for UC). Considering a DD <6, 6–12, and >12 percentages of patients needing biologics were respectively 53.4%, 63.6% and 56.5% for CD and 28.5%, 34.1% and 26.3% for UC. Seventy-two CD and 27 UC patients needed surgery. Analyzing the time to surgery, DD did not influence the rate of resections in CD (p = 0.6559), as well as in UC (p = 0.2792).
Conclusion
In our cohort, DD has significantly decreased over the last years, more for UC than CD patients. This is probably related to the increased awareness of patients on disease and of general practitioners in sending them to the specialist. Considering the published literature, UC and CD did not differ in DD; moreover age at diagnosis did not affect DD in our patients. DD did not influence the need for biological treatment or surgery rates in both diseases. These results are probably related to the difference in disease extension and severity among the patients enrolled. An analysis on targeted patients at higher risk for bowel damage is presently under way.
Delayed diagnosis of colorectal sexually transmitted diseases due to their resemblance to inflammatory bowel diseases
