Two-year delay in ulcerative colitis diagnosis is associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha use

Ho Suk Kang, Kang Moon Lee, Dae Bum Kim, Ji Min Lee, Yoon Jae Kim, Hyuk Yoon, Hyun Joo Jang, Ja Seol Koo

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    9 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an uncommon inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, its incidence has recently increased in South Korea. Moreover, UC diagnoses are frequently delayed, and the relationship between diagnostic delay and UC prognosis has not been extensively studied in South Korean patients. AIM To identify meaningful diagnostic delay affecting UC prognosis and to evaluate risk factors associated with diagnostic delay in South Korean patients. METHODS Medical records of 718 patients with UC who visited the outpatient clinic of six university hospitals in South Korea were reviewed; 167 cases were excluded because the first symptom date was unknown. We evaluated the relationship between the prognosis and a diagnostic delay of 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo by comparing the prognostic factors [anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α use, admission history due to acute flare-ups, frequent admission due to flare-ups, surgery associated with UC, and the clinical remission state at the latest followup] at each diagnostic interval. RESULTS The mean diagnostic interval was 223.3 ± 483.2 d (median, 69 d; 75th percentile, 195 d). Among the prognostic factors, anti-TNFα use was significantly increased after a diagnostic delay of 24 mo. Clinical risk factors predictive of a 24-mo diagnostic delay were age < 60 years at diagnosis [odd ratio (OR) = 14.778, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.731-126.121], smoking history (OR = 2.688, 95%CI: 1.239-5.747, P = 0.012), and misdiagnosis of hemorrhoids (OR = 11.066, 95%CI: 3.596-34.053). Anti-TNFα use was associated with extensive UC at diagnosis (OR = 3.768, 95%CI: 1.860-7.632) and 24-mo diagnostic delay (OR = 2.599, 95%CI: 1.006-4.916). CONCLUSION A diagnostic delay > 24 mo was associated with increased anti-TNFα use. Age < 60 years at diagnosis, smoking history, and misdiagnosis of hemorrhoids were risk factors for delayed diagnosis.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)989-1001
    Number of pages13
    JournalWorld journal of gastroenterology
    Volume25
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    ©The Author(s) 2019. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

    Keywords

    • Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha
    • Diagnostic delay
    • Smoking
    • Ulcerative colitis

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Gastroenterology

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Two-year delay in ulcerative colitis diagnosis is associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha use'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this