Suboptimal disease control and contributing factors in Italian IBD patients: The IBD-PODCAST Study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Suboptimal disease control (SDC) is a significant concern in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
• Contributing factors to SDC according to STRIDE-II criteria require further elucidation.
• The IBD-PODCAST study aimed to assess SDC in a real-world setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of suboptimal disease control (SDC) in an Italian cohort of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients.
• To identify key factors contributing to SDC in Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients.
• To assess current disease monitoring and management practices in IBD.

Main Methods:

• A non-interventional, international, multicenter real-world study (IBD-PODCAST) was conducted.
• Data from 220 Italian IBD patients (≥19 years, diagnosed ≥1 year) were analyzed.
• Retrospective chart review and cross-sectional assessment using adapted STRIDE-II criteria were performed.

Main Results:

• 53.4% of Crohn's disease (CD) and 49.0% of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients exhibited SDC.
• Primary contributors to SDC included low Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire scores, lack of endoscopic remission, and active extra-intestinal manifestations.
• Disease monitoring via endoscopy occurred in ~40% of patients, with therapeutic adjustments in ~50%.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of Italian IBD patients experience suboptimal disease control.
• Current management strategies may be insufficient, necessitating more proactive approaches for both CD and UC.
• Further research into optimizing IBD management is warranted based on these findings.