Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

Table 1 Patient characteristics, n (%)

Parameter	CD (n = 223)	UC (n = 207)	P value
Sex, M/F	95/128	101/106	0.198
Age at enrolment (yr)	40 (30-50)	41 (32-52)	0.509
Age at diagnosis (yr)	26 (20-35)	28 (21-39)	0.565
Residence at diagnosis			0.554
Village	12 (5.4)	14 (6.8)	0.537
Small-town	18 (8.1)	18 (8.7)	0.801
Medium-sized town	24 (10.8)	14 (6.8)	0.149
Large city	165 (74.0)	152 (73.9)	0.977
Abroad	1 (0.4)	5 (2.4)	0.081
Patient waiting time (mo)	2.0 (0.5-6.0)	1.0 (0.5-4.0)	0.051
Physician time to diagnosis (mo)	5.5 (0.75-23.5)	1.0 (0-5.0)	< 0.001
Total diagnostic time (mo)	12.0 (6.0-24.0)	4.0 (1.5-12.0)	< 0.001
Predominant symptom
Diarrhea	97 (43.5)	101 (48.8)	0.239
Constipation	1 (0.4)	1 (0.5)	0.954
Abdominal pain	74 (33.2)	16 (7.7)	< 0.001
Heartburn	1 (0.4)	0 (0)	0.336
Bloating	0 (0)	3 (1.4)	0.070
Blood in stool	11 (4.9)	70 (33.8)	< 0.001
Nausea/vomiting	9 (4.0)	0 (0)	0.004
Skin	1 (0.4)	1 (0.5)	0.954
Joint pain	4 (1.8)	0 (0)	0.054
Fistula	5 (2.2)	0 (0)	0.031
Weight loss	1 (0.4)	0 (0)	0.336
Fever	1 (0.4)	1 (0.5)	0.954
Fatigue	5 (2.2)	5 (2.4)	0.897
Other symptoms	8 (3.6)	3 (1.4)	0.164
Location
Upper GI	19 (8.5)	2 (1.0)	< 0.001
Small bowel	73 (32.7)	16 (7.7)	< 0.001
Terminal ileum	153 (68.6)	21 (10.1)	< 0.001
Colon	101 (45.3)	154 (74.4)	< 0.001
Rectum	49 (22.0)	111 (53.6)	< 0.001
Severity
Very mild	7 (3.1)	9 (4.3)	0.519
Mild	11 (4.9)	23 (11.1)	0.019
Moderate	38 (17.0)	55 (26.6)	0.018
Strong	88 (39.5)	69 (33.3)	0.187
Very strong	75 (33.6)	49 (23.7)	0.023
Physician
Gastroenterologist	85 (38.1)	97 (46.9)	0.066
Hospital	104 (46.6)	73 (35.3)	0.017
General practitioner	18 (8.1)	19 (9.2)	0.682
Expert in IBD	9 (4.0)	9 (4.3)	0.871
Another consultant	4 (1.8)	8 (3.9)	0.187
Others	2 (0.9)	2 (0.9)	0.172
Diagnostic tests
Colonoscopy	175 (78.5)	199 (96.1)	< 0.001
Gastroscopy	5 (2.2)	1 (0.5)	0.111
Sonography	4 (1.8)	1 (0.5)	0.193
Computed tomography	7 (3.1)	1 (0.5)	0.037
Magnetic resonance imaging	5 (2.2)	1 (0.5)	0.028
Diagnosis change	23 (10.3)	35 (16.9)	0.070
Positive family history	35 (15.7)	35 (16.9)	0.808
Parents	13 (37.1)	10 (28.6)	0.445
Siblings	12 (5.4)	8 (22.9)	0.290
Aunt/uncle	2 (0.9)	8 (22.9)	0.040
Grandparents	4 (1.8)	9 (25.7)	0.124
Knowledge of IBD	49 (22.0)	39 (18.8)	0.437
Affected person	27 (55.1)	20 (51.3)	0.721
Media	10 (20.4)	7 (17.9)	0.772
Internet	8 (16.3)	6 (15.4)	0.904
Profession	6 (12.2)	9 (23.1)	0.179
Medication
Mesalazine	149 (66.8)	180 (87.0)	< 0.001
Budesonide	68 (30.5)	24 (11.6)	< 0.001
Cortisone	54 (24.2)	115 (55.6)	< 0.001
Azathioprine	2 (0.9)	29 (14.0)	0.007
Methotrexate	7 (3.1)	1 (0.5)	0.607
Infliximab	7 (3.1)	5 (2.4)	0.649
Adalimumab	17 (7.6)	1 (0.5)	0.042
Local treatment	13 (5.8)	64 (30.9)	< 0.001

CD: Crohn’s disease; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis; GI: Gastrointestinal tract.