Long-term prognosis of patients with paediatric-onset infl ammatory bowel disease after transfer to adult care – a retrospective observational study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and report long-term prognosis of infl ammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patientstransferred to adult care.Methods: We reviewed medical records of all patients treated in our tertiary medical centre and then on adult care for a minimumof 5 years (median 12.4 years).Results: During the study period, 52 IBD patients were treated in our centre and 27 patients/families were available for interview(13 of them women; median age 29 years; 20 with Crohn’s disease and 7 with ulcerative colitis (UC)). Twenty-three (85%) patientswere transferred to adult care, whereas 4 (15%, 3 with UC) patients never consulted an adult gastroenterologist. Nineteen (70%)patients experienced a relapse, 2 (7.4%) died, and 9 (33%) received biological therapy in adult care. Of the surviving patients, 8 (32%)underwent surgery in adult age.Conclusion: This study confi rmed that, in the absence of organized transition to adult care, a number of patients would nevertransfer on their own, causing discontinuity of care.