Open AccessSystematic Evaluation of Diagnostic Delay in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Author(s) -
Schoepfer Alain M.,
Vavricka Stephan,
Safroneeva Ekaterina,
Fournier Nicolas,
Manser Christine,
Frei Pascal,
Deltenre Pierre,
Rogler Gerhard,
Straumann Alex,
Ezri Jessica,
Nydegger Andreas,
Braegger Christian
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001238
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , inflammatory bowel disease , ulcerative colitis , confidence interval , crohn disease , diagnostic accuracy , inflammatory bowel diseases , gastroenterology , disease , crohn's disease , pediatrics
We evaluated the diagnostic delay (time from first symptoms to diagnosis) in 100 pediatric patients with Crohn disease (CD) and 75 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Median (interquartile range) diagnostic delay in patients with CD was 4 (2–8) (range 0–82) months compared with 2 (1–7) (range 0–52) months in patients with UC ( P = 0.003). The time interval from first physician visit to inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis was longer in patients with CD and UC when compared to the time interval from symptom onset to first physician visit (CD: median 3 vs 1 months, P < 0.001; UC: median 2 vs 0 months, P < 0.001). No specific risk factors were identified for the length of diagnostic delay. Measures should be taken to reduce diagnostic delay.