Health Union released its 2018 IBD in America survey, offering insights into inflammatory bowel disease from patients with the disease.
Health Union surveyed 2,800 respondents using 90 questions addressing a variety of issues from quality of life to treatment usage. The respondents are all older than 18 years and are U.S.-based. Seventy-two percent of the respondents were diagnosed with Crohn's disease, and 20 percent were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
Here are 10 insights:
1. It takes a patient 5.9 years on average to receive a diagnosis after symptoms are identified
2. Eighty percent of patients needed a colonoscopy to diagnose their IBD.
3. More than 50 percent of IBD patients have been diagnosed for more than 10 years.
4. Approximately 89 percent of patients classified their IBD as moderate or severe.
5. Thirty-three percent of respondents have never been in remission.
6. Ninety-five percent of patients see a primary care provider for their IBD, with 73 percent seeing a gastroenterologist regularly for treatment.
7. Only 23 percent of respondents are satisfied with their treatment plans. Biologics were the most common treatments, with 52 percent of Crohn's disease sufferers and 37 percent of ulcerative colitis sufferers utilizing them. Approximately 40 percent of respondents said they'd rather make a lifestyle change than take a prescription medication.
8. Most patients began experiencing symptoms when they turned 27. However, the majority of Crohn's disease patients began having symptoms when they were 18 years or younger.
9. Seventy-eight percent of patients at least somewhat believe their symptoms will get worse.
10. Concerning clinical trial research, 90 percent of respondents have never participated in a clinical trial, but 48 percent were interested in doing so.
For more insights, click here.