ARTICOLI ORIGINALI   

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2014 December;60(4):269-74

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Adherence to medical treatment in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Zelante A. ¹, De Giorgi A. ², Borgoni R. ³, Trevisani L. ¹, Gallerani M. ¹

¹ Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medicine, University Hospital “Sant’Anna”, Ferrara, Italy; ² Clinica Medica, Department of Medicine, University Hospital “Sant’Anna”, Ferrara, Italy; ³ Department of Statistics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

AIM: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a group of chronic intestinal conditions characterized by unpredictable course, with periods of flare-ups and remissions suggesting poor adherence to medical therapy. On the other hand adherence is one of the most common reason of failure in the treatment of chronic disease.
METHODS: We have analyzed IBD patients’ questionnaires, sent by IBD Society of Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy). The anonymous questionnaire included sex, age, qualification, management, disease duration, disease associated, previous surgery, use of homeopathy and self-medication and possible psychological support. We classified patients based on IBD type: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
RESULTS: A total of 559 IBD patients were analysed (50.1% female), 52.8% were affected by CD. Patients were followed by gastroenterologist in 84.7% of cases. 17.4% of patient reported non-adherence to medical therapy; univariate analysis showed that non-adherence was more frequent in young females followed-up by general practitioners, no difference was found in educational status or type of IBD. Factors independently associated with greater adherence to medical therapy were age (OR=2.039) and follow-up by gastroenterologist (OR=3.025).
CONCLUSION: Non-adherence should be taken into account in IBD patients and especially in young female. Gastroenterologists have a major role in promoting education.