Abstract
BackgroundTransition from pediatric to adult care of patients affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a critical step that needs specific care and multidisciplinary involvement. The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcome of the transition process of a cohort of IBD patients, exploring their readiness and the consequent impact on quality of life.MethodsThis observational study followed transitioned patients up for a minimum of 18 months after the beginning of transition process, from January 2014 to April 2019. Transition was carried-out through joint visits pediatricians and adult gastroenterologists. Clinical data before and after transition were collected. A subgroup of patients was submitted to an anonymous online questionnaire of 38 items drawn up based on the validated questionnaires TRAQ and SIBDQ within the first 6 months from the beginning of transition process.ResultsEighty-two patients with IBD were enrolled, with a mean age at transition of 20.2±2.7 years. Before transition, 40.2% of patients already had major surgery and 64.6% started biologics. At transition, 24% of patients were in moderate to severe active phase of their disease and 40% of them had already been treated with ≥ 2 biologics. The mean value of the TRAQ questionnaires was 3.4±0.5 and the mean score of SIBDQ was 53.9±9.8. A significant association was found between a TRAQ mean score > 3 and a SIBDQ > 50 (p=0.0129). Overall, 75% of patients had a positive opinion of the transition model adopted.ConclusionsA strong association has been found between TRAQ and SIBDQ questionnaires, showing how transition readiness has a direct impact on the quality of life of the young adult with IBD.
Transition of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients from Pediatric to Adult Care: An Observational Study on a Joint-Visits Approach
