Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Early diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is critical for preventing bowel damage.
• Limited data exists on risk factors for delayed IBD diagnosis in European populations, with no specific data for German patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with prolonged diagnostic timelines in a cohort of German IBD patients.
• To differentiate diagnostic delays between Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 430 IBD patients from four Berlin hospitals between 2012 and 2022.
• Patients completed a questionnaire to detail their diagnostic journey, including patient and physician waiting times.
• Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine risk factors for diagnostic delays.

Main Results:

• Total diagnostic time was substantially longer for Crohn's disease (CD) patients compared to ulcerative colitis (UC) patients (12.0 vs. 4.0 months).
• Predominant symptoms like diarrhea and skin lesions, along with gastroscopy, were linked to longer physician diagnostic times in CD.
• Fever correlated with shorter physician diagnostic time in UC, while fatigue and family history were associated with longer delays.

Conclusions:

• Crohn's disease patients face a higher risk of diagnostic delay compared to UC patients.
• Targeted interventions to shorten the diagnostic delay are essential for improving patient outcomes in IBD.