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IBD Epidemiological Survey - Diagnosis
Change in Diagnosis:
25% of patients originally diagnosed with UC were later found to have CD. This finding is regarded as being very significant and of particular concern when surgery is being considered for apparent UC.
Major Systems That Led Patients To Seek Medical Attention
58% of symptoms were gastrointestinal, 31% abdominal, 4% nutritional/hormonal. Other categories refer almost exclusively to patients with CD. Average of 2.4 symptoms per patient.
Previous Incorrect Diagnosis
Most incorrect diagnoses referred to: 27% colon, 21% psychiatric, 12% infections, 10% irritable bowel syndrome (lBS). The highest number of individual responses were: 73 appendicitis, 62 psychosomatic, 27 lBS and 16 ulcer. CD had proportionately more incorrect diagnoses than UC.
Delay in Diagnosis
Comparing the age when diagnosed with the age when symptoms first began a delay is evident, most particularly with CD. 48% were diagnosed within one year, 32% within 1-5 years, 13% between 5 and 10 years and 7% took over 10 years to be diagnosed.
Tests Undergone To Enable IBD To Be Diagnosed
75% had a colonoscopy, 50% a barium x-ray. 67 (97%) of the 69 who were diagnosed by operation had CD.
Who Diagnosed IBD
61% gastroenterologists, 23% surgeons, 12% general practitioners, 4% other. More surgeons and fewer GPs diagnosed CD than UC.
Time Comparison
Trend suggests fewer proportionate incorrect diagnoses over last 5 years compared to 5-10 years and over 10 years ago.
Age When Diagnosed
34% were diagnosed when in their twenties. Youngest had symptoms when 3 months old and was diagnosed at 7 months. UC diagnosed at earlier age than CD. There is a noticeable difference in age when diagnosed between males and females, with more males than females being diagnosed before 20 years of age and between the ages of 30 and 70. Most females (38%) were diagnosed during their 20's.
Areas of Gastro-intestinal Tract Affected By CD
Some patients have CD in more than one area. A total of 70% of CD patients indicated the small bowel, 62% the large bowel, 6 patients the stomach, 3 duodenum, 2 mouth and 2 oesophagus.
Extra-intestinal Problems
63% of CD patients had symptoms outside the gastrointestinal tract, 44% of UC patients and 54% of IC. 25% had problems with joints, 16% with skin, 13% with eyes.
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