Long-term aminosalicylate therapy is under-used in patients with ulcerative colitis: a cross-sectional survey

There is evidence from case-control studies that aminosalicylate drugs can reduce colorectal cancer risk by 75-81% in patients with ulcerative colitis. Patients may fail to comply with long-term therapies, however, or may have been advised to discontinue treatment once in remission.

To describe the usage of long-term aminosalicylate therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis.

A cross-sectional study was performed using data extracted from general practitioner clinical records on demographic features, extent and duration of disease, use of aminosalicylate therapy and specialist care.

Three hundred and sixty-three people had ulcerative colitis and no history of colorectal surgery. Ninety-five of 175 (54%) patients with proctitis, 78 of 123 (63%) patients with left-sided colitis and 28 of 45 (62%) patients with extensive colitis were currently taking an aminosalicylate drug. Those doing so were more likely to be under specialist care than to be definitely or possibly discharged (odds ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-8.4). The likelihood of current aminosalicylate therapy was not related to gender or the extent of disease, but was negatively related to the duration of disease.

A substantial minority of patients with ulcerative colitis does not take long-term aminosalicylate therapy. Those who do are more likely to be under specialist care, to be older or to have disease of shorter duration.